FG files criminal charges against Seplat Energy PLC over an alleged breach of extant provisions of the 2015 Immigration Act
The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed criminal charges against Seplat Energy and some of its directors and officers over an alleged breach of the Immigration Act.
The defendants were charged with four counts before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also listed as defendents in the charge sheet marked FHC/AB/CR/149/2023, are the board chairman of the company, Mr Basil Omiyi, its Independent Non-Executive Directors, Dr. Charles Okeahalam, Mrs Bashirat Odunewu, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), Mr Rabiu Bello, Ms Emma Fitzgerald, as well as the company’s Secretary/Legal Counsel, Mrs Edith Onwuchekwa.
The Federal Government alleged that the defendants allowed Brown, whose visa was earlier revoked, to accept employment as the CEO of the company, without the statutory approval of the Controller-General of Immigration or the consent of the Minister of Interior.
They were alleged to have conspired among yourselves to allow Brown to take over as Seplat’s CEO without the consent of the minister.
The FG also accused the defendants of “instigating, encouraging, and conniving, by neglect on their part, and allowing Brown, a non-Nigerian to accept employment as Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc even after withdrawal of his immigration documents.”
They were further accused by FG to have refused to make an application to the Comptroller-General of Immigration for his permission before employing Brown both as Chief Finance Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc.
According to the charge, the offence committed contravened Sections 36 (1)(a) and 71 of the Immigration and punishable under Section 36 (2) and Section 71 (a) 36 (1) (b) of the Immigration Act 2015,
One of the charges against the defendants read: “That you, Seplat Energy Plc, Mr Roger Thompson Brown, Mr Basil Omiyi, Dr Charles Okeahalam, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Mr Rabiu Bello, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu, Ms Emma Fitzgerald, Mrs Edith Onwuchekwa, on or before the 9th day of March 2023 at Seplat Energy Plc Head Office 16A Temple Road Oluholloway Ikoyi Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to allow Mr Roger Brown accept employment as Chief Executive Officer at Seplat Energy Plc without the consent of the Comptroller General of Immigration, contrary to Section 36 (1)(a) and 71 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 36 (2) and Section 71 (a) of the Immigration Act 2015.
However, no date has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendants.
