Immigration withdraws charges against Seplat Energy and its directors

The Nigerian Immigration Service has filed a notice of withdrawal of the Charge which it filed against Seplat Energy Plc and its directors.

The Court papers showed that the Criminal Charge and the Notice of Withdrawal were both dated 6th April 2023.

The Nigeria Immigration Service acting in the name of the Federal Government of Nigeria filed a Criminal Charge against Seplat and its Board at the Federal High Court on 6th April 2023, and the same day, filed a notice to withdraw/ discontinued the Charges.

Nigeria Immigration Service and the Ministry of Interior alleged that the work permit of the CEO was withdrawn on 3rd of March 2023, and alleged that he accepted employment without work permit, when it is general industry knowledge that the CEO was working with work permit since 2013.

However, it is public knowledge that the CEO has since 3rd of March 2023, been abroad in compliance with the law and as a believer in the due process of law. How then could the CEO be said to be working in contravention of the law when he has not been in Nigeria to undertake employment or duties as the Chief Executive Officer? All of these are glaring contradictions by the Nigeria Immigration Service on the unfounded allegations of some persons said to be unknown third parties.

According to court sources, the defendants are yet to be served with the Charge, and interestingly, a Notice of Withdrawal or Discontinuance of the Charge was filed the same day the Charge was filed in court.

It is not unlikely that the withdrawal of the Charge was founded on what some have termed the contradictions in the Charge filed by the federal government agency, Nigeria Immigration Service, given that the Chief Executive Officer was appointed as Chief Executive since August 2020, and had served as the Chief Financial Officer since July 2013.

The Chief Executive was known popularly to be instrumental in completing the dual listing of the company on the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges, which was the first for a Nigerian corporate.

He is also known to be instrumental in broadening the capital base of the company and increasing Seplat Energy’s footprint in Nigeria by acquiring oil and gas assets.

The withdrawal of his immigration documents was in March 2023, over 30 months after his appointment as Chief Executive and about 9 years and 9 months after his appointment as CFO.

Since the news of the cancellation of the immigration documents of the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc broke out, the company’s shares have suffered a sharp decline, and all manners of suits aimed at scuttling the smooth running of the business of the company have been filed in various courts both in Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory against the company and the Board.