Prof Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), one of Seplat Energy Plc’s non-executive directors, has resigned from the company’s Board.
Ajogwu’s resignation comes amid the Nigerian Immigration Service’s court case against Seplat and its Directors (including himself).
According to a reliable source, Professor Ajogwu resigned on Friday, and “his untimely resignation may not be unconnected with the external interferences on the affairs of the company targeted at the board.”
The Nigerian government had filed criminal charges against the defendants in suit No. FHC/AB/CR/149/2023 for allowing Mr. Roger Brown, a British national, to accept employment as the CEO of Seplat Energy PLC without the statutory approval of the Controller-General of Immigration.
“Also, for conspiring among yourselves to allow Mr. Roger Brown take over business as CEO of Seplat Energy PLC without the consent of the Minister of Interior, allowing Mr. Roger Brown, a non-Nigerian to accept employment as CEO of Seplat after withdrawal of his visa, resident, and work permits, and for refusing to apply for the Comptroller-General of Immigration’s approval before employing Mr. Brown both as Chief Finance Officer and CEO, contrary to the extant provisions of the Immigration 2015,” the charge partly read.
But in a sudden twist last Thursday, the company announced that the Nigerian Government had withdrawn the charges vide a Notice of Withdrawal/Discontinuance of legal action by the Nigeria Immigration Service dated 6th April.
The Nigerian government has yet to respond, though some civil societies have stated that the trial must continue and that the notice was false and misleading.
According to reports, Ajogwu resigned as an independent non-executive Director of Seplat, citing recent events and deliberate external interference that prevented him from carrying out his fiduciary and statutory duties.
“Ajogwu’s short stay on the board from July 2021 to April 2023 saw him bring the benefit of corporate governance experience from his works and teachings, including the benefit of having drafted Nigeria’s pioneer code of corporate governance, chaired NCC telecoms Code and assisted with the National Code of Corporate Governance as a member,” one of the staff members said.
“In the Federal Government letter, it was stated clearly that Mr. Brown did have the necessary papers (especially CERPAC) to work in Nigeria and his visa, resident and work permits were revoked, while the Federal Government also declared a persona non-grata. Did Omiyi, Prof. Ajogwu, not go on in line with the vote of confidence to encourage Mr. Brown to continue to defy Nigerian laws and government by continuing to function as a CEO even as lately as 14th April 2023.
“Can Ajogwu, as a Nigerian do such in the UK? His claim to be a professor of good governance did not show in his stint at Seplat,” another staff member queried.