The Federal High Court, Abuja Division has ordered the suspension of the embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seplat Energy, Roger Brown and the Chairman of Seplat Board, Basil Omiyi, pending the determination of the motion on notice filed by some aggrieved shareholders of the company.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, gave the order on Thursday while ruling on a motion ex-parte brought before the court by three aggrieved shareholders – Juliet Gbaka, Margaret Funmilayo, and Clement Akaeme, through their counsel, Abiodun Layonu.

The plaintiffs had in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/626/23 sought an order of the court compelling the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to appoint suitable persons to run the affairs of the company (Seplat Energy) among other demands.

Cited as respondents in the suit are the SEC, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Datamax Registrars Limited, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

In his ruling, after hearing the plaintiffs’ cousel, Justice Ekwo restrained Brown, Omiyi and others from operating or functioning as officers of the oil firm pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the shareholders.

Also suspended were independent Non-Executive Directors in the company – Emma Fitzgerald, Charles Okeahalam, Fabian Ajogwu, Rabiu Bello and Bashirat Odenewu as well as Edith Onwuchekwa and Samuel Ezeugwuorie, the Company Secretary and the Chief Operating Officer respectively.

Specifically, the court ordered the SEC to appoint suitable persons to run the affairs of the firm pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the shareholders.

It restrained the defendants, their agents, and personal representatives from operating or functioning as officers of the oil firm under any guise, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed by the shareholders.

“An order is, hereby, made suspending the 2nd to 10th defendants as directing minds and secretary of the 1st defendant (Seplat), pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicants,” the judge declared even as he adjourned the matter till May 23.