In our quest to put perspective to the underlying issues precipitating the chieftaincy crisis in Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Kristina Reports have amassed several critical documents germane to the struggle for the stool and other surrounding issues.
One of such documents is the purported affidavit sworn or deposed to in 1955 by Samuel Owunabo Tobin, son of Chief Sunday Abraham Tobin, who later became Chief and Head of the House in 1961.
The purport of this document is key to the Finima chieftaincy imbroglio as it is referenced as one of the documents giving strength to the paramountcy claim by the Brown House over Attoni and Tobin Houses and the ‘Amadabo’ status being arrogated to the Chief of Brown House.
Claim:
Samuel Owunabo Tobin, son of late Chief Sunday Abraham Tobin, alongside some members of Tobin (Konibo-ye-Awanta) House swore to an affidavit declaring the Tobin (Konibo-ye-Awanta) House to be part of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House of Finima. In addition, he identified himself alongside the other deponents as answering Tobin-Brown.
Fact-Check:
- Samuel Owunabo Tobin swore or deposed to that affidavit in 1955 at the age of 28 years.
- He became Chief and Head of the Tobin (Konibo-ye-Awanta) House in December 1961 at the age of 34 years.
- He was not a Chief or Head or in any representative capacity as at when he deposed to the affidavit. It was Elder Mark Tobin that was Head of the Tobin (Konibo-ye-Awanta) House upon the demise of Samuel’s father, Chief Sunday Abraham Tobin in 1945 and remained so until his demise in 1959.
- Samuel Owunabo Tobin canceled ‘Brown’ from his name where his signature was appended on the document.
- Justice Nko-Tariah threw out the said affidavit when it was tendered as evidence in Suit No. PHC/174/72. He stated that the said document was inadmissible as evidence because the deponent canceled ‘Brown’ from his name at the point of signing it thus rendering it questionable and that the deponent was not a chief at the material time he was deposing to the document contrary to him identifying himself as chief in the said document.
- Even as a Chief of the House, he lacks the power to aver allegiance to another chieftaincy house given that the chieftaincy houses in Bonny Kingdom were created by the King of Bonny. Thus, consistent with the principle of “who creates, owns”, no house can subscribe subservience to another house.
- Lastly, there is no record of any meeting where, in whatever capacity, Samuel Owunabo Tobin sought the consent of members of the Tobin (Konibo-ye-Awanta) House to subscribe allegiance to the Brown House as seen in the said document.
Stay on this street as we bring you more factchecking updates on the Finima imbroglio.
Regarding the said document which we (Tobin House) still have in our possession. No matter how long the Brown house spread their falsehood, it’s only a matter of time, truth will always overcome.