The women of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State have been called upon to redeem the reputation of their late colleague who has been accused of infidelity by a former Executive Director of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Amaopusenibo Jonathan Tobin.

Two members of the late woman’s family, Omudabo Tobin and Bara Joseph Afanyemonia Tobin, who identified themselves as youngest son and grandson, respectively, in letters dated March 16, 2022 and March 17, 2022 and addressed to the Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Amaopuorubo Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, pleaded that the ex-BOI boss be invited to prove his allegations.

The ex-banker had stirred an outrage across the Ijaw ethnic nationality, of which the Ibani (Bonny) race is a subset, when he alleged that the chief-elect of Tobin (Konibo-ye-Awanta) House of Finima in Bonny Kingdom, Amasenibo Dagogo Tobin, was not the biological son of his father.

He made this allegation, which has now been interpreted as an accusation of infidelity against the late mother of the chief elect, via a text message, which he later had circulated on an online messaging application, WhatsApp, thus causing an outrage across the Ibani (Bonny), Ijaw and Niger Delta communities, which share similar customs and traditions.

Omudabo Tobin lamented that he was now ashamed of walking the streets of his community as questions are being asked him about the allegation on his late mother.

“I can no longer walk freely in Finima Community, without people from far and near stopping me to ask questions.”

“We, as Ibani people, have certain beliefs and traditions as sacrosanct, one of which is that we don’t speak ill of the dead. This is called “Dua Suu”, meaning “Digging up the dead.”

He asserted that the allegation that his elder brother was not his father’s son, was tantamount to calling his mother an adulteress, appealing to the women to invite the former Bank of Industry top shot to prove his allegation against his late mother.

“For a man not minding the seriousness of the provocation, to say that the second son of my parents (Chief-elect: Amasenibo Dagogo Tobin) is not the son of my father, Amaopusenibo Sir Joseph Tobin. Thereby, questioning the morality of my late mother (Mrs. Josephine Tobin). This is as good as calling her an adulteress.”

“Therefore, I am bringing this to you as my mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, etc. to join me as ai express my pain. For now, it is my mother, but it could be any other mother. An injury to one is an injury to all. I only ask you Ibani women to please invite Amaopusenibo Jonathan Tobin to appear before you to prove his allegation.”

On his part, Bara Joseph Afanyemonia Tobin, who is also the Chairman of Opu-Asawo (Adult Male) of Tobin House, said he deems the allegation as “malicious, absurd, scandalous and making mockery of the dead (my grandparents), insulting their memories and accusing my late grandmother of infidelity”.  

“Amaopusenibo Jonathan Tobin alleged that our chief-elect, Amasenibo Dagogo A. Tobin is not the biological son of my grandparents (Amaopusenibo Joseph Afanyemonia Tobin and Madam Josephine Afanyemonia Tobin) for reasons best known to him.”

“I have considered the above to malicious, absurd, scandalous and making mockery of the dead (my grandparents), insulting their memories and accusing my late grandmother of infidelity, which is an abomination according to tradition.”

“I understand Bonny Kingdom to be a land of customs and tradition. Therefore, I write to you my dear mothers to please invite Amaopusenibo Jonathan Tobin to come and prove beyond reasonable doubt his claims traditionally because he should be held liable for his actions. This I humbly request as the first grandchild of my grandparents.”

The two letters were acknowledged as received by the Secretary of the Bonny Women Forum (BWF), Dame Lily Hart.

Kristina Reports was unable to reach the BWF Scribe or any of her colleagues to ascertain what will be the next steps in addressing this issue that has been adjudged to be absurd and abominable across the Ijaw society.