Seplat CEO Got His Visa Revoked By the Nigerian Government for Alleged Racism

The CEO of Seplat Energy company, Mr. Roger Brown, has been leveled with some allegations which have revoked his Visa, Work Permit, and Residence permit. This decision was taken by the Minister of Interior, Abuja Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, after Roger was accused of racism, favoring foreign workers, and discrimination against Nigerian employees. The accusation was leveled against him by the workers of the company.

The statement by the Nigerian government over Seplat's CEO

The revocation letter was released on the 3rd of March, 2023, and was addressed to the board of chairman of Seplat Energy Plc. The Federal High Court Lagos released the letter, where the concerned stakeholders instituted legal proceedings against Seplat in this regard.

The letter was titled:

"Withdrawal of Work Permit, CERPAC, Visa/Residence Permit of Mr. Roger Thompson Brown – CEO, SEPLAT Energy Plc"

"I write to inform you that the Ministry received a petition from the Solicitor to the concerned workers and stakeholders of Seplat Energy PLC accusing Mr. Rogers Thomson Brown, the CEO of the company, of various allegations.

"These accusations include racism, favoring foreign workers, and discriminating against Nigerian employees. Testimony was received from several witnesses, which supported the allegations. Mr. Roger T. Brown declined to attend despite two invitations, claiming to be unavailable even though we learned he was in Abuja for other purposes.

"Investigation and records in the Ministry also revealed that Mr. Roger Brown had CERPAC that was not based on validly issued Expatriate Quota approved by the Ministry of Interior, violating relevant Immigration Laws and Regulations. As a result, the Honourable Minister has determined that Mr. Brown's continued stay in Nigeria contradicts the national interest.

"Consequently, the Ministry has withdrawn the Work Permit CERPAC, Visa, Residence Permit and all relevant documents that authorized Mr. Roger Thomson Brown's entry or stayed in Nigeria," the letter stated.

Final words

According to Aregbesola, Brown was invited twice by the Ministry's panel during the investigation. Still, he refused to attend, stating that he was unavailable, despite being in Abuja for other reasons.

Having joined Seplat in 2013 as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Brown, a British national, was appointed the company's CEO in November 2019, although he officially assumed the position in 2020. As of the time of this report, the court case's verdict was still pending.