High Court Dismisses Oguede Land Dispute Suit, Predicates Decision on Limitation Law
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit brought before it by some members of Olom Abalama Community, also known as Oguede, in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Delivering his judgment on Monday, June 8, 2026 in Suit No.: PHC/3704/2019, the presiding judge, Justice Iniye Wodi, held that the action of the claimants was statute bared.
He noted that by the claimants’ originating summons the cause of action arose in January 2009, whereas the matter was instituted in October 2019, which is more than the 10 years period stipulated by the Rivers State Law of Limitation.
Under the Rivers State Limitation Law (Cap. 80), claims for contracts and torts (including negligence or oil spills) generally become statute-barred after 5 years from the date the cause of action accrued.
Claimants in the suit are Chief-Elect, Harrigan Adango Pepple, John Tamuno-Obienimigbofori Pepple, and Wariopusenibo Promise Fubarabonye Samuel Pepple, while the respondents are Sonny Osobonye Fombo, Ralph Jamaica, Joefoba Sunday, Sinclair Allison, Simini Allison, and Boma C. M. Pepple.
The Judge further held that in the event that it is wrong on the subject matter being statute barred, the Court shall go on to determine other issues raised before it.
The court also held that the claimants could not prove their allegation that the signature of late Chief Jonathan Kalada Pepple was forged by the defendants, observing that same was not specifically pleaded.
The Judge also noted that the 1st claimant, Harrigan Adango Pepple, admitted to not being a member of the late Chief Jonathan Kalada Pepple’s executive, does not know all those that were allotted land by the said executive, and also does not have any document for his own land allocated to him by the late Chief Jonathan Kalada Pepple.
Acknowledging the fact that once family or communal land is partitioned and allotted to individuals, such land seizes to be family or communal land, thus dismissing the suit for lack of merit.
Reacting to the judgment, the 1st claimant, Harrigan Pepple said though he was not in court when the judgment was delivered, he was informed by his lawyer, but stated that he was indifferent to the outcome of the suit.
On his part, the Chief and Head of Jack-Manilla Pepple House of Bonny Kingdom, Se-Alabo Iganima jack-Manilla Pepple hailed the judgment, describing it as a victory for the people of Olom Abalama, asserting that the court remains the hope of the common man.
