Metro
For breach of immigration law group urges FG to prosecute Seplat
A human rights and good governance advocacy group under the aegis of Make A Difference Initiative has applauded the Ministry of Interior for the bold step in investigating allegations of racism, favouritism of foreign workers against Nigerian employees levelled against the CEO of Seplat Energy PLC, Roger Brown, by employees of the company.
The group is also demanding a definite prosecution of Mr. Brown and even the Board of Seplat Energy Plc for connivance and conspiracy to flout the country’s immigration laws.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Executive Director of MAD, Lemmy Ughegbe also commended the FG for revoking the Work Permit, Visa, and Residence Permit of Seplat Energy’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Brown on account of the breach of the nation’s immigration law.
The Ministry of Interior had written the management of Seplat Energy and its CEO, Mr. Brown of the outcome of its investigation over the allegations brought against the latter, which he refused to appear before it to defend despite several invitations.
“Investigation and records in the Ministry also revealed that Mr. Roger Brown was 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 Honourable Minister has determined that Mr. Brown’s continued stay in Nigeria is contrary to national interest”, the ministry of interior stated in the said letter.
“This is one move that will help to restore the dignity of Nigerians in their own land and sound as a warning note to expatriate workers and firms who discriminate against Nigerians and treat them like slaves in their fatherland”, Ughegbe.
MAD also applauded the interim order of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which barred Mr. Roger Brown from parading himself as, or continuing to operate as the CEO of Seplat or working for Seplat in any other capacity pending the determination of the suit brought against him by shareholders of Seplat over the indictment for racism by the Federal Government.
“It is also right that the court also restrained the Chairman, Board of Directors, Seplat Energy, Mr. Basil Omiyi, and all the Non-Executive Directors under him from continuing to run the affairs of the company in an illegal, unfair, prejudicial, and oppressive manner pending the hearing and determination of the Petitioner’s Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
“Our organisation condemns in totality the corporate lies told by Seplat at paragraph two of its statement dated 9th March 2023, where it claimed that the allegations and petitions by the aggrieved Nigerian staff at Seplat Energy “have not been brought to the attention of Mr. Roger Brown or Seplat Energy for a reaction”.
The Ministry of Interior stated in their letter conveying the sanctions against Mr. Brown that he was invited to the investigative panel twice and that he snubbed the Federal Government of Nigeria twice. According to the Ministry, “Mr. Roger T. Brown declined to attend despite two invitations, claiming to be unavailable even though we learnt he was in Abuja for other purposes at the time”.
“We are equally in possession of letters dated 9th February and 15th February inviting Brown to the investigative hearing. But he ignored both out of disdain for the Nigeria and Nigerian government. We wonder if a Nigerian citizen or corporate entity would dare such impunity and disdainful treatment of UK government and people on UK soil”, Ughegbe stated.
“We must put an end to foreigners treating Nigerians as second class citizens, at best, or as slaves at worst. Many foreign nationals running businesses in Nigeria treat citizens with utmost disregard and put them through dehumanizing conditions. We must bring this to an end”, Ughegbe added. c
“We frown at the obvious dereliction of duty, complicity and irresponsibility of Seplat Board led by Mr. Basil Omiyi, a Nigerian national, in quickly taking sides with the oppressors of our people on their own land”, he added
“It is failure of leadership and complicity on the part of Omiyi-led Board that Mr. Brown freely perpetrated such racist and discriminatory practices in Seplat without any preemptive measures or sanctions by the Board Chairman and the Non-executive Directors whose responsibility it is to ensure that Seplat is run in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Good Governance Codes for which the company was known until recently”, he added.
He said “it is even a greater display of irresponsibility that the Omiyi-led Board failed to employ internal mechanisms to interface with the employees to resolve the matter before they were left with no choice than to seek the intervention of the Ministry of Interior.
“It a crying shame and lack of patriotism on the part of Board to quickly come to the defence of Roger Brown with a vote of confidence while also describing the allegations as “spurious” even without any form of investigation on its part. It hurts that a Board of Directors headed by a Nigerian would so slavishly and irrationally throw the citizens of Nigeria under the bus in their own country”, he added.
MAD is aware that Seplat is a strategic asset to Nigeria, as it supplies the gas used in generating nearly 40% of the power utlised in Nigeria, hence anything that affects the discharge of such service amounts, in our estimation, an organised economic sabotage.
We therefore make the following demands:
- MADI calls on Seplat’s CEO, Roger Brown; the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Basil Omiyi; and the Non-Executive Directors under him, to honourably resign and immediately or be sacked by the Board.
“Seplat must be rescued from the hands of those minded to run the affairs of the company in an illegal, unfair, prejudicial, and oppressive manner and without regards to good governance”, he added.
MAD calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately prosecute Mr. Brown and Seplat for flagrant breach of the relevant Immigration Laws and Regulations.
The 8th March statement by Seplat’s Chairman to the effect that the Board passed a vote of confidence in Brown and that he “continues to discharge his duties and responsibilities as CEO from the Seplat UK office” is an affront to the clear decision of the FG that “Mr. Brown’s continued stay in Nigeria is contrary to national interest” and also to the consequent revocation of his immigration documents.
Section 58 Immigration Act 2015 provides, “It is an offence for any employer of persons liable to repatriation to discharge any such persons without giving notice to the Comptroller-General of Immigration, or for any such employed person to be redesigned, or change his employment, without the approval of the Comptroller-General of Immigration….”
Section 105 (1) provides, “Where an offence under this Act or any other relevant law committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed on the instigation or with the connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of a director, manager, Secretary of the body corporate, or any person purporting to act in any such capacity, the officer or person is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three years or to a fine of Two Million Naira or both.
Section 105 (2) provides, “Where a body corporate is convicted of an offence under this Act, it is liable to a fine of five million naira and a court may issue an order to wind up the body”.
A multi-million naira revenue fraud syndicate operating under the guise of legitimate taxation has been uncovered, with fresh evidence pointing to a long-standing network of deception allegedly led by Engr. Emmanuel Osigbemeh, National Chairman of the Heavy Duty and Haulage Transport Association of Nigeria (HDHTAN).
Investigations revealed that for over seven years, truck drivers and haulage operators have been forced to pay illegal levies, with receipts falsely stamped “In partnership with the Federal Government.”
The scheme, which reportedly rakes in millions of naira daily, has continued despite multiple petitions to authorities, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Documents seen by our reporters indicate that HDHTAN’s leadership attempted to secure presidential approval for their revenue-collection operations but were denied authorization. 
However, instead of halting their activities, they allegedly manipulated internal government communications to create the illusion of legitimacy.
A memo from the SGF’s office, originally sent to the police for comments, was allegedly leaked and later misrepresented as a government directive.
Armed with this fraudulent backing, HDHTAN operatives reportedly enforced levies across multiple states, with police officers unknowingly—or in some cases, willingly—providing cover for their operations.
Anti-corruption advocate Abayomi Makinde, who has been tracking the syndicate, raised concerns about possible collusion within the police and other security agencies. According to Makinde, HDHTAN officials worked with certain officers to alter official signals, changing the classification of their activities from “investigation” to “government collaboration.”
“While realizing the negative impact of the SGF’s response, they conspired with top security officials to modify internal communications and give their fraudulent operations a new face,” Makinde revealed.
Several truck drivers who spoke to our reporters described the extortion as a daily nightmare.
“We are forced to pay N10,000 every day just to keep moving. They tell us it’s a government fee, and if you refuse, they seize your vehicle,” said a driver who operates between Edo and Delta states.
Another transporter, who preferred anonymity, added, “This is not taxation, it’s outright theft. Everyone knows it, but nobody dares to challenge them because the police are involved.”
With mounting evidence and increased pressure from anti-corruption groups, the Tinubu administration faces a crucial test. Will the government crack down on the syndicate and recover lost revenues, or will these fraudulent practices continue unchecked?
Makinde has called on President Tinubu to issue a direct order to security agencies to dismantle the fraudulent network and prosecute those involved.
“Nigerians cannot afford to watch billions siphoned away while the country struggles with revenue shortages. This is not just fraud—it’s economic sabotage,” he declared.
As the scandal unfolds, all eyes are now on the government’s next move. Will this be another case of impunity, or will Nigeria finally see justice?
The Northern Senators Forum has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic fire that swept through an Islamic school in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, claiming the lives of several young students.
Describing the incident as a heartbreaking loss, the forum extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the wider Zamfara community.
In a statement signed by Sen. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, the lawmakers not only mourned the victims but also called for immediate and decisive action to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
“This is a devastating loss that touches every heart in our region,” the statement read. “We stand with the people of Zamfara in this time of grief and urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of this fire.”
Beyond the immediate mourning, the Northern Senators Forum stressed the need for systemic changes in how schools are regulated and managed.
The senators urged state Ministries of Education to implement strict supervision and accreditation processes to ensure all educational institutions meet basic safety standards.
“This tragedy must serve as a wake-up call,” Sen. Yar’adua stated. “No school should operate without adhering to stringent safety guidelines. The lives of our children depend on it.”
The Forum also called on the Zamfara State Government to step up support for the affected families, recommending not only financial compensation but also counseling services to help them cope with the loss.
“As we mourn, we pray that Almighty Allah grants eternal rest to the souls of the departed and gives their families the strength to bear this painful loss,” the statement continued. “But prayers alone are not enough—we must ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”
The Forum assured the public that it remains committed to pushing for legislative reforms aimed at safeguarding Nigerian schools. “We will continue to monitor this situation closely and work towards strengthening policies that prioritize the safety and well-being of our children. It is our responsibility to create an environment where students can learn without fear.”
The Kaura Namoda fire has reignited national conversations about the safety conditions of schools, particularly in northern Nigeria, where infrastructural challenges and regulatory gaps often leave institutions vulnerable to disasters.
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes will be on both the Zamfara State Government and the Federal Ministry of Education to implement the necessary reforms to prevent future tragedies.
A rare throwback photo captures Nigerian music superstar Davido at just six years old, standing alongside his father, Tajudeen Adedeji Adeleke, and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote. The image is more than a simple family moment—it represents a convergence of three influential figures, each leaving a mark in their respective industries.
Singer Davido, his father Adeleke and billionaire Dangote. Davido was six years old.
Aliko Dangote, at the time, was steadily building what would become the Dangote Group, one of Africa’s largest conglomerates. Today, the Dangote Group operates across Benin, Ghana, Zambia, and Togo, with interests spanning cement, sugar, salt, and flour production. Perhaps its most ambitious project is the Dangote Oil Refinery, a 650,000 barrels-per-day facility poised to be the seventh-largest oil refinery in the world, expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined petroleum.
Tajudeen Adedeji Adeleke, Davido’s father, has been a towering figure in Nigerian business as the founder of Pacific Holdings Ltd., which expanded into sectors like agriculture (Pacific Farms, Inc.), logistics (Pacific Freightliners Ltd.), energy (Pacific Gas Co. Ltd.), and banking (Pacific Bank Ltd.). He also served as a Director at Unity Bank Plc from 2006 to 2010, contributing to the financial sector’s development during his tenure.
Meanwhile, Davido, born into privilege, carved his own path in the entertainment industry. Today, he’s recognized as one of Africa’s biggest music stars, with international hits and multiple awards to his name. Despite his family’s business legacy, Davido’s success in music showcases his determination to create his own identity.
This photo serves as a powerful reminder that success is often born from persistence, vision, and the courage to follow one’s path. As the famous saying goes:
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
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