In a statement on Friday, signed by Basil Omiyi, the board chairman of Seplat, the company said the decision followed the court order of a federal high court in Lagos.

A court had restrained Brown from carrying out his official duties pending the determination of a suit filed against him and other respondents by aggrieved stakeholders of the company over allegations of racism, favouring of expatriate workers, discrimination against Nigerians, and breach of good governance.

The court restrained Brown as well as his proxies, privies, and agents from continuing to participate in the “day-to-day running and management of Seplat Energy or in any manner whatsoever pending the determination of [the] hearing and determination of the petitioners’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction”.

In response to the court ruling, Seplat said Brown has delegated his authority to Samson Ezugworie, the chief operating officer of the company.