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🏝️ Finima: The Ancient Homeland Before Bonny — A Historical and Legal Reaffirmation

By Engr. Tamunofiniarisa Brown, Tamfis Nigeria Limited

Introduction

The story of Finima is not merely a sub-chapter of Bonny history — it is the foundation upon which the later Bonny civilisation evolved.
Long before the emergence of the Bonny Kingdom as a trading and political power in the Niger Delta, Finima already existed as a vibrant riverine community — a cradle of Ibani heritage and maritime culture.

This post consolidates credible historical, anthropological, and legal sources to reaffirm that Finima predates Bonny by several centuries.
It also clarifies that the later relationship between the two entities was a negotiated confederation formed in the 14th century, rather than conquest or assimilation.

1️⃣ Finima’s Ancient Origins (11th Century AD)

According to reputable historical records, Finima was already a flourishing coastal settlement as early as 1000 AD, centuries before Bonny’s consolidation at Okoloama.
The Buoye Omuso (Brown) House — also known as the Kongo lineage — traces its ancestry to the Isedani of Kolokuma origin in the Central Niger Delta, establishing Finima as one of the earliest Ijaw-Ibani settlements in the Rio Real region (Finima.net, 2025).

“Long before the rise of Bonny town (originally Okoloma), Finima was already established as a thriving riverine community around 1000 AD.”
(Finima.net, 2025)

This aligns with the broader Ibani chronology outlined by Bristol-Alagbariya (2022), who confirms that the primordial house-system of Grand Bonny began forming before 1000 AD, rooted in ancient family groupings that later became the Duawari Houses.

Finima, therefore, represents one of the earliest nuclei of Ibani civilisation—a proto-community that laid the groundwork for the later kingdom of Bonny.

2️⃣ Finima as a Founding Duawari House

Finima’s Buoye Omuso (Brown) House stands proudly among the five Duawari Houses—the aboriginal founding lineages of the Bonny kingdom (Bristol-Alagbariya, 2022).
The Duawari were the blood-descended progenitors whose settlements formed the base of the emerging Okoloama polity, which eventually crystallised into the Bonny kingdom.

As Bristol-Alagbariya (2022) emphasises, the Duawari houses were the legitimate custodians of land, title, and governance, distinct from later houses created by appointment, migration, or conquest.
Thus, Finima’s house status affirms its autochthonous — not tributary — position in Bonny’s constitution.

3️⃣ The 14th-Century Confederation Between Finima and Bonny

While Finima flourished as an established settlement, the migrating Ibani-Ijaw groups who later formed Bonny Town (Okoloama) arrived around the 13th–14th centuries.
Historical synthesis indicates that rather than being subdued, Finima’s leadership negotiated a confederal alliance with the newcomers to promote mutual defence and trade along the Rio Real (Finima.net, n.d.).

This 14th-century confederation recognised Finima as a sovereign partner within the emerging Bonny polity, retaining its ancestral territories and internal governance.
It was a federal arrangement of cooperation, not conquest — similar to the ancient Delta confederations among Ijaw city-states such as Nembe, Kalabari, and Okrika.

Therefore, Bonny did not conquer Finima; rather, it grew with Finima as an equal founding pillar within the Ibani nation.

4️⃣ Rebutting the “Conquered Settlement” Narrative

The claim that Finima was conquered or that its land became “commonwealth” property of Bonny contradicts every credible historical record.
Research confirms that King Amakiri’s wars (16th–17th centuries) were external expansion campaigns against Andoni, Abalaye, and Ayankpo — not against Finima or other Duawari lineages (Bristol-Alagbariya, 2022).

Moreover, Finima played a central role in Bonny’s internal affairs — offering refuge to King William Dappa Pepple after his 1854 exile and hosting him until his restoration in 1861 (Finima.net, n.d.).
Such a gesture of hospitality and royal protection could never have emanated from a “conquered” people.

5️⃣ Modern Legal Recognition — Finima as a Host Community

In modern law, Finima’s ancestral continuity has been judicially affirmed.
In FHC/ABJ/CS/1419/2022, the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Okorowo J.) declared Finima (represented by the Buoye Omuso Brown House) the rightful host community of the NLNG plant located on Finima land and awarded ₦100 billion in damages for denial of due recognition (Tamfis Reports, 2023).

This ruling harmonises historical truth with statutory recognition, upholding Finima’s ancestral ownership and corporate personhood under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
It also corrects the distortions that have persisted in the interpretation of Finima’s place within Bonny Island.

6️⃣ The Finima–Bonny Relationship: A Model of Confederation

History shows that the strength of the Ibani people lay in unity through diversity, not domination.
Finima’s Duawari autonomy and Bonny’s central authority once functioned symbiotically — a federated alliance that brought stability, commerce, and maritime prominence to the Niger Delta for centuries.

Recognising Finima’s 11th-century foundation and 14th-century confederation therefore restores balance, truth, and historical dignity to the entire Bonny–Finima narrative.
It is a call to return to mutual respect and constitutional equity among all Duawari houses.

✅ Conclusion

Finima is not a settlement that was conquered.
Finima is the ancestral origin — the living heritage — of the Ibani nation.

Founded around 1000 AD, and entering into a 14th-century confederation with the emerging Bonny kingdom, Finima remains a sovereign partner in Ibani history.
Its people, through the Buoye Omuso Brown House, continue to safeguard this heritage with dignity, legal prudence, and cultural pride.

📚 References (APA 7th Edition)

Bristol-Alagbariya, E. T. (2022). Aboriginal Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom of Niger Delta in the Framework of Its Primordial House System of Governance and Natural Law Towards Sustainable Development in the Kingdom. Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, 10(3), 1–32. https://www.eajournals.org/wp-content/uploads/Aboriginal-Ancient-Grand-Bonny-Kingdom-of-Niger-Delta.pdf

Finima.net. (n.d.). Brief History of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima. Retrieved from https://www.finima.net/community/brief-history-of-buoye-omuso-brown-major-house-of-finima/

Finima.net. (2025, June 28). Origins of Finima: From Ancient Ijaw Settlement to IOC Host Community. Retrieved from https://www.finima.net/community/origins-of-finima-from-ancient-ijaw-settlement-to-ioc-host-community/

SchoolSoftware.com.ng. (2023, March 2). History of Bonny Town in Bonny Island, Nigeria. Retrieved from https://www.schoolsoftware.com.ng/history-of-bonny-town-in-bonny-island-nigeria/

Tamfis Reports. (2023, September 29). Federal High Court Declares Finima NLNG Host Community — ₦100 Billion Damages Awarded. Tamfitronics News. https://www.tamfitronics.com

💬 Final Note

This article may be freely shared for educational and cultural documentation, provided all citations are retained.

Community Lauds Finima Youth Congress in Landmark Girl Child Celebration

Heartfelt appreciation underscores collaborative success in advancing girl-child empowerment across the region

By Engr. Tamunofiniarisa Brown

Finima, Rivers State — The Finima Youth Congress (FYC) has earned widespread acclaim for its successful hosting of the International Day of the Girl Child celebration on Saturday, 11 October 2025, held at Amaechi Primary School. The event attracted dignitaries, community leaders, guest speakers from multiple states, and dozens of young girls from Finima and neighbouring communities. The celebration, conceived as part of the FYC’s ongoing commitment to gender equity and youth development, was described by organisers as a milestone in local efforts to empower girls through education, mentorship and public awareness.

In an official appreciation message, Comrade Abraham Brown, Director of Social Welfare and Youth Development for the Finima Youth Congress, extended heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to making the celebration a memorable occasion, with particular recognition directed towards the organisation’s Education Committee and its dynamic Coordinator.

Education Committee Receives Special Recognition

The Education Committee emerged as the driving force behind the event’s success, with their organisational excellence and dedication drawing specific praise from the youth congress leadership. “Your dedication to empowering young girls is truly inspiring,” Abraham Brown noted, highlighting the Committee’s exceptional efforts in coordinating what proved to be a transformative celebration.

The Coordinator’s dynamic leadership was singled out as instrumental in bringing together the various elements that made the event both meaningful and impactful for participants, particularly the young girls who stood at the heart of the celebration.

The programme reportedly included keynote addresses, panel discussions on education and leadership, interactive workshops, cultural performances by schoolgirls, awards or recognition for outstanding youths, and distribution of educational materials. A number of guest speakers shared perspectives on girls’ rights and empowerment.

Community leaders, including members of the Amadabo-in-Council, local chiefs, and parents, were present to support the initiative. Their contributions — in funding, endorsements, and logistics — were acknowledged in the official communiqué as having “a lasting impact on the lives of our girl children.”

Broader Significance & Context

The International Day of the Girl Child, observed globally on 11 October, aims to highlight the challenges girls face—such as limited access to education, gender-based discrimination and violence—and to promote their empowerment. In Nigeria, despite progress, many girls still confront structural barriers like early marriage, school dropouts, and unsafe learning environments. The Guardian Nigeria

Locally, Finima’s initiative underscores how global observances can be anchored in community action. By translating the day’s themes into concrete programmes, the Youth Congress is bridging advocacy and grassroots impact.

Leadership Commitment Proves Crucial

The unwavering support of the Chairman and the entire Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Finima Youth Congress received special mention as being instrumental to the event’s ultimate success. This institutional backing demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to placing gender empowerment at the centre of its youth development agenda.

“Special thanks to the Chairman and the entire CEC Finima Youth Congress for their unwavering support, which was instrumental to the event’s success,”Abraham Brown emphasised, highlighting the critical role leadership plays in translating vision into reality.

A Milestone Achievement

The celebration has been characterised as a milestone moment in the Finima Youth Congress’s journey towards girl child empowerment. Beyond the immediate success of the event itself, organisers have expressed confidence that its impact will reverberate far into the future.

This celebration marks a milestone in our commitment to empowering the girl child, We are confident that it will inspire a new generation of leaders and change-makers.

The statement reflects a strategic understanding that investing in young girls today creates the foundation for transformative change tomorrow, with educated and empowered women becoming catalysts for broader community development.

Global Significance, Local Action

The International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on 11 October, represents a global commitment to addressing the unique challenges facing girls worldwide. Established by the United Nations, the day serves to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights whilst highlighting persistent barriers to their advancement.

By organising a comprehensive celebration of this international observance, the Finima Youth Congress has demonstrated how global advocacy can be translated into meaningful local action. The event addressed critical issues ranging from education access and leadership development to challenging limiting stereotypes about what young women can achieve.

Challenges Noted and Future Path

Organisers acknowledged some logistical constraints (e.g., limited resources, outreach to remote areas) but affirmed plans for follow-up projects such as continuous mentorship, scholarship schemes, and school-based clubs.

The success of the event marks a milestone in our commitment to empowering the girl child, and the Youth Congress hopes to sustain the momentum by launching periodic educational campaigns, monitoring impact, and replicating the celebration in neighbouring communities.

Conclusion

The Finima Youth Congress’s celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child stands as a compelling example of local engagement on global issues. While the immediate results are celebratory, the true test will be in translating inspiration into sustained programmes and measurable outcomes. With strong community support and clear leadership, the event’s legacy may well extend beyond this single day to benefit future generations of girls in Finima and the wider region.

Source: Official statement from Comr. Abraham Brown, Director of Social Welfare and Youth Development, Finima Youth Congress

finima palce new

REJOINDER TO THE MALICIOUS AND BASELESS PUBLICATION BY KRISTINA REPORTS

From the Buoye Omuso Brown (BOBH) Royal House of Finima

The attention of the Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House of Finima has been drawn to the fictitious and malicious publication circulated by Kristina Reports on 2nd October, 2025, titled: “Amadabo of Finima Capitulates After Government Rebuke, Intense Media Backlash”.

Ordinarily, such mischievous propaganda would have been ignored, given its obvious bias and lack of factual substance. However, for the sake of history, the peace of Finima, and to set the record straight, we hereby state as follows:

1. On the Alleged Violence of September 27, 2025

The truth, which the public must note, is that the violence that erupted on 27th September, 2025, was not between Brown and Tobin Houses, as mischievously reported, but rather between Finima Opu-Ogbo (Ogbokoroma) and a minute misguided faction of the Tobin Chieftaincy House, already under an interlocutory injunction restraining them from representing or parading themselves as Tobin House leadership in any way.

Despite this valid injunction, this splinter faction, fuelled and sponsored by the Bonny Chiefs Council under Edward Asimini Dappa Pepple, recklessly violated the law, fired gunshots, and hurled fuel bombs that backfired and injured their own members.

There was no incident of acid attacks by any party. Such grotesque claims are pure fabrications designed to gain sympathy and demonise the true custodians of Finima heritage.

2. On the Locus of Representation

The section of Tobin faction presently parading themselves in public lack any legal or customary authority to represent the Tobin Chieftaincy House. The following consistent judicial precedents, spanning over five decades, affirm the primacy of the Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House in Finima’s leadership and ownership matters:

PHC/174/1972 – Chief Samuel O. Tobin & Others v. Chief Israel I. Brown & Others (affirmed on appeal as FCA/E/60/1980).
PHC/188/2010 – Chief Y.S. Tobin v. Chief Yibo Buowari Brown & Others.
PHC/745/2012 – Chief Young Sunday Tobin & Others v. Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited & Others.
FHC/ABJ/CS/1419/2022 – Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House v. Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources & Others (judgment delivered on 15th September, 2023).

All these cases were decided in favour of the Brown House, consistently affirming her paramountcy and ownership of Finima. It is therefore no longer a matter of debate.

For further confirmation, the public may refer to:

3. On the Position of the Amadabo of Finima

The Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House states categorically that the Amadabo of Finima is not struggling under any process. The insinuation that he is “capitulating” is nothing but journalistic fiction. Furthermore, it must be clearly stated that Mr Evans Clements Buoye Brown is not legitimately linked to the Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House of Finima, contrary to the propaganda being circulated by his sponsors. His purported installation was a sham exercise concocted for political convenience, lacking both legitimacy and ancestral connection.

4. On Freedom of Association

It is important to clarify that Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees freedom of association, but this does not confer the right to secede from existing communal structures and criminally usurp established institutions. Freedom of association does not equate to anarchy, nor does it justify disobedience to valid court orders.

5. On the Historical Attack of June 10, 2021

We must remind the public that on 10th June, 2021, members of the Finima community peacefully protesting against the negligence of NLNG were attacked by hoodlums sent and sponsored by Edward Asimini Dappa Pepple and his cohorts. Many were injured, property destroyed, yet no condemnation was issued by the same Kristina Reports, the Bonny Chiefs Council, or any of the voices now crying wolf. The silence then and selective outrage now only expose the hypocrisy and vested interests behind these orchestrated narratives.

6. On the Role of the Bonny Chiefs Council

The Bonny Chiefs Council under Edward Asimini Dappa Pepple has continued to meddle in Finima affairs, fanning division for selfish gain. Their true objective is not the peace or unity of Bonny Kingdom, but to cart away proceeds belonging to Finima by weakening her internal cohesion. This is a betrayal of history and an affront to the dignity of Finima people.

7. Commitment to Peace

The Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House reiterates its commitment to peace, unity, and lawful coexistence in Finima. However, peace cannot be built on lies, illegality, and impunity. We urge government institutions, security agencies, and the media to resist being misled by propaganda, and to instead uphold justice, truth, and fairness.

Conclusion

The malicious publication by Kristina Reports is hereby dismissed in its entirety as baseless, concocted, and sponsored falsehood. The facts remain:

The September 27th incident was not a Brown vs Tobin conflict, but a clash involving the Finima Opu-Ogbo (Ogbokoroma) and a misguided faction of Tobin House under injunction.
The faction of Tobin House lacks locus due to interlocutory injunctions and consistent court rulings.
Violence was self-inflicted by the reckless actions of the splinter group.
The Amadabo of Finima remains the legitimate custodian of Finima heritage.
Freedom of association cannot be stretched to cover disobedience of law and criminality.
Edward Asimini Dappa Pepple and his council are the true instigators of Finima’s present unrest.

We call on all well-meaning Finima sons and daughters to reject this campaign of calumny, to remain law-abiding, and to place the interest of Finima above the selfish ambitions of a few.