A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has restrained the Traditional Institution in Bonny LGA, Public and Private Sector Institutions, International Oil and Gas Companies IOCs), amongst others from recognizing or having dealings with Evans Clement Brown as the Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso Brown Chieftaincy House (BOBH) of Finima.
Specifically, the Court restrained the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited, and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), amongst others from dealing with Evans Clement Brown in his capacity as the Chief and Head of the BOBH.
Justice G. C. Aguma gave the ruling on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, in Suit No: PHC/329/CS/2022, wherein Evans Clement Brown was the defendant/respondent while his main contender for the stool of Omuso (Buoye Omuso Brown House), Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, and 11 others were the claimants/applicants.
The defendant, Evans Clement Buoye Brown was installed on Friday, January 21, 2022, at the Captain Hart House Opuwari (community hall) in Bonny as the Chief and Head of the Brown (Buoye Omuso) Chieftaincy House, Omuso IX, by the Chief and Head of Captain Hart House, Se-Alabo Reginald Fiene Peter Abbey-Hart, MON, JP, Captain Hart XIII.
He was later presented to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny for induction into the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), by Chief Captain Hart XIII.
Both men have since being in court seeking the adjudication of the courts on who is the rightful leader of the BOBH.
In the said ruling, Justice Aguma ordered four specific restraints against the defendant, Evans Brown, namely:
- Restraint from parading, presenting or holding out himself or acting as or executing or interfering or further interfering with the functions, powers and duties of the 1st Claimant/Applicant (HRH Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown) as the Chief and Head of BOBH or Paramount Ruler of Finima Community, which includes initiating, calling for, holding or presiding over meetings and other events of the Brown House and Finima Community.
- Restraint from further attacking, invading, assaulting or battering or destroying the buildings and other properties of the Claimants/Applicants, creating fear and apprehension of attack or invasion in the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House and Finima Community, further disturbing the peace, tranquillity, order and good administration and rulership of the said house and community pending the determination of the substantive suit.
- Restraint from attending, or further attending the meetings and other events or functions of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council or dealing with the said or any other chieftaincy council or institution, applying for or presenting himself to the Government of Rivers State for recognition as the Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House.
- Restraint from making or issuing any further newspaper, electronic, social media or other online publication or press releases or holding any further press conferences as the Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House.
Reacting to the development, the Chief and Head of BOBH, His Royal Highness, Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, who is also the Amadabo of Finima, praised the Judiciary for the ruling, noting that it would afford the people the opportunity to sheath their swords, come together and work for the development of Finima Community.
He appealed to the relevant authorities referenced in the ruling to abide by the decision of the court pending the resolution of the substantive case, declaring that Finima is a blessed land with abundant opportunities for all including indigenes and residents.
On his part, Evans Clement Buoye Brown told Kristina Reports that his legal team would appeal the ruling, urging all Finima people, especially those of Brown House to remain calm as justice must prevail in due time.
The most significant and salient development in this Buoye Omuso Brown house cum Finima leadership saga is that Bonny kingdom is at the verge of having more than one govt gazetted first class traditional ruler.
Methinks the age-old Cockeyed One first class traditional ruler situation does not augur well for us.
With just one 1st cOur contemporary kingdoms of Ogoni, Ikwerre, Okrika,etc all have an edge over us in this regard. Perhaps, this accounts for our disadvantaged position in the Nigerian national political chessboard.
The most significant and salient development on the Buoye Omuso Brown house cum Finima leadership saga is that Bonny kingdom is at the verge of having more than one govt gazetted first class traditional ruler
For me it’s a very fair judgement and I believe that the rule of law must be respected in this case cheers.