The Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy PLC, Roger Brown, has stepped down from his job following the court’s order restraining him from running the organisation for seven days.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the board of Seplat, Basil Omiyi, on Friday, reveealed that Brown has given authority to the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Samson Ezugwore, as the acting CEO during this period.
The Punch reported that Seplat was on Thursday given an ex-parte interim order “restraining the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roger Brown from participating in the running of the Company [for a period of 7 days].”
The interim order was owing to the charges of unfair, prejudiced, and offensive behavior by the Chairman, CEO and all of the Independent Non-Executive Directors of Seplat Energy, according to a statement signed by Board Chairman Mr Basil Omiyi.
Part of the allegations as reported is that Brown cancelled certain catering and landscaping contracts, organized a site visit for several of the company’s significant shareholders, and instituted a new work performance evaluation.
The Punch also reported that the suit was instituted against Brown and others by some of the company’s stakeholders who are aggrieved over the alleged CEO’s act of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.
Meanwhile, Seplat Energy has refuted the allegations, stating that Nigerian nationals have been placed in the company’s key positions, such as Chairman, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating officer since Mr Brown became CEO in 2020.
In addition, the organisation stated that, “The Board believes that these allegations are a spurious and vindictive reaction to the enforcement of corporate governance standards in the Company by the Board of Seplat Energy.
“Over the past decade, Mr. Brown has earned an unblemished record of service and leadership in the Company.
“In March 2023, the Board of Seplat Energy unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Brown, who continues to discharge his duties and responsibilities as CEO from the SEPLAT UK office.”
In 2013, Brown joined the company as the Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed the CEO of the company in November 2019 and properly assumed office in 2020.
