Ministry of Interior revokes visa of Seplat CEO over alleged racism
The Ministry of Interior has revoked the visa, residence and work permit of Roger Brown, a British businessman and CEO of Seplat Energy Plc.
Seplat Energy Plc is an oil and gas exploration and production company based in Nigeria.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in a letter said the decision followed testimony from several witnesses of alleged racism, favouring of foreign workers and discrimination against Nigerian employees.
He explained that the Ministry received a petition from the Solicitor to the concerned workers and stakeholders of Seplat Energy PLC accusing Brown, the CEO of the companies, of various allegations.
The Ministry also accused Brown of being in possession of CERPAC that was not based on validly issued Expatriate Quota approved by the Ministry of Interior resulting to the violation of relevant immigration laws and regulations.
“As a result of these, the minister has determined that Mr. Brown’s continued stay in Nigeria is contrary to national interest,” the letter read.
The Minister also noted that Brown declined to attend the two invitations from the ministry during the investigation, claiming “to be unavailable though they learnt he was in Abuja for other purposes at the time.”
Writing by Annabel Nwachukwu