The Fubara Manilla Pepple Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria is in jubilation as a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt declared the de-recognition of her former Chief and Head, Lt. Col. Aminiowugha Owen Manilla Pepple (rtd.) valid thus paving the way for the presentation of her new Chief and Head to the Bonny Chiefs Council.

A certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment of the court sighted by Kristina Reports revealed that the said verdict was delivered by Justice Opufaa Ben-Whyte on Monday, November 29, 2021 in favour of the plaintiffs, Sunju Bluejack, who is Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the House and Waripanye Valentine Pepple, the new Chief and Head of the House.

The installation of Waripanye Valentine Pepple as the Chief and Head of the Fubara Manilla Pepple House of Grand Bonny Kingdom, Fubara XV, took place on Saturday, September 14, 2019, which effectively triggered the legal fireworks.

In the said judgment, Justice Ben-Whyte ordered that “judgment be and is hereby entered in favour of the claimant,” declaring that the de-recognition of Lt. Col. Aminiowugha Pepple as “valid and proper”.   

The learned judge further held that the appointment of Sunju Bluejack as the Chairman of the House, paving way for subsequent appointment and installation of Waripanye Valentine Pepple as Chief and Head of the Fubara Manilla Pepple House after the de-recognition of the former were also “valid and proper”.

Justice Ben-Whyte further made an order directing the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom to receive Waripanye Valentine Pepple into the Bonny Chiefs’ Council as replacement for Lt. Col. Aminiowugha Pepple (rtd.) as the Chief of the Fubara Manilla Pepple House of Bonny Kingdom.

The Fubara Manilla Pepple Chieftaincy has been embroiled in various legal tussles over the ouster of its Chief and Head and the appointment and installation of a replacement for the erstwhile Head of the House.

Knowledgeable sources hinted Kristina Reports that with this judgment the stage is set for the House to witness a new vista of progress and development as the new Chief and Head, Waripanye Valentine Pepple effectively takes charge of managing the House after his presentation to the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC).