The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has lifted the interim ex-parte order that restrained Mr. Roger Brown from parading himself as the Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc.
The decision was made by Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke while ruling on the applications filed by Seplat Energy PLC, Mr. Roger Brown, Mr. Basil Omiyi, and persons affected by the ex parte order in the case.
The court held that the interim orders of the court made on 8th March 2023 are hereby discharged and vacated by virtue of Order 26 Rules 9 and 10 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019.
The court also refused the request of counsel for the petitioners, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jeph Njikonye, to move his application for joinder.
On March 8, 2023, the court had restrained Mr. Brown from parading himself as the CEO of Seplat Energy pending the determination of the suit instituted against him by some aggrieved stakeholders of the company over allegations of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.
Justice Aneke made the orders while ruling on a Motion Ex-parte, filed by Njikonye, on behalf of the aggrieved stakeholders of Seplat – Moses Igbrude, Sarat Kudaisi, Kenneth Nnabike, Ajani Abidoye, and Robert Ibekwe, against the Respondents, Seplat Energy PLC, Mr. Roger Thompson Brown, and Mr. Basil Omiyi.
However, the respondents in their various applications urged the court to set aside the ex-parte orders, contending that the Petitioners lacked the locus standi to file the suit.
They also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit on the grounds that the complaints of the Petitioners fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
Besides, they contended that the interim orders were granted against persons that were not parties to the suit. The Respondents argued that those persons who were not parties to the suit at the time the interim orders were granted have come to ask the Court to set aside the interim orders.
In his ruling, Justice Aneke noted that the Petitioners had in their application alleged that the affairs of Seplat were being conducted in a manner that is illegal, oppressive and unfairly prejudicial to their interests.
The Judge held that the Petitioners have locus standi to bring the petition before the Court and that the court has jurisdiction to adjudicate on the suit as it falls within the provision of section 251 of the Constitution.
Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till May 16 for accelerated hearing.
