Tamunoala Chappa-Jumbo’s status as an impostor appears reinforced as a Rivers State High Court sitting in Okrika has ordered that the status quo be maintained in the Jumbo Major House with regards to its leadership.

The presiding judge in suit number; WHC/78/2020, Justice Lema Ngbor-Abina gave this directive on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at a pre-trial conference which he summoned in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

Earlier, in a decided case per suit number: PHC/I917/CS/2021 on Friday, September 29, 2022, another High Court sitting in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice Tamunoigoni Susan Oji had declared Chapp-Jumbo a pretender to the chieftaincy stool of the Jumbo Major House.  

Apparently, this directive by the judge implies that parties in the suit remain as identified on record at the court, viz Wari-Alabo Sodienye Jumbo and others, as claimants, and Mr. Tamunoala Chapp-Jumbo and others, as respondents.  

At the pre-trial conference, counsels to the claimants, Boma Stowe, and the respondent, Tope Duyilemi tendered supporting documents to their claims and responses, after which the presiding judge directed that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The Elders Council of Jumbo Major House had dragged Chapp-Jumbo to the Okrika High Court over his impersonation of the chief of the House, among other issues.

Chapp-Jumbo, who is actually, Chikadibia Godspower, a native of Arochukwu in Abia State and maternally from Omoku in Rivers State, had through the instrumentality of some individuals pretending to be elders of Jumbo Major House purportedly installed himself as chief of the House, albeit illegally. 

In the said suit Chapp-Jumbo is the claimant while Jasper Jumbo, Ihua Maduenyi, a chief magistrate in Rivers State, and the State Commissioner of Police were the respondents, with O. O. Osaoola and T.M. West as counsels to the claimant while A.C. Agumagu appeared for Jasper Jumbo. Maduenyi and the Commissioner of Police had no representations.

In her judgment, the judge stated that “the purported installation of applicant (Tamunoala Chapp-Jumbo) when the substantive suit was still pending is an affront on the court and is in bad faith and is accordingly declared null, void, and of no effect”.

“Applicant by getting installed tampered with the Res in my view and now wants this court to rubber stamp his act of illegality.

“The order restraining him from parading himself as paramount chief or chief elect by Minakiri J., in my view, was a surplusage, as truth be told, applicant jumped the gun and acted in contempt of court when he allowed himself to be so installed.

“Indeed, this is one case of abuse of court process where an applicant is using the judicial process to rubber stamp his contemptuous actions.”

Justice Abina adjourned proceedings in the case to April 18th, 23rd, 25th, and 30th 2024 for expedited hearing on the matter.