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the court affirms the nogicd acts and pias recognition of host communities

Finima as Host Community – The court affirms the NOGICD Act’s and PIA’s recognition

Finima as Host Community. The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday 15 September 2023, has ruled that the community where an oil and gas company operates has the right to host such activities and should be engaged in that regard by the company conducting such operations.
In accordance with the Community Content Guidelines of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Founding Royal Major House of Finima (Founders of Finima, and owners of all lands in Finima) and Finima community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State filed a lawsuit before the court. The lawsuit demanded recognition as the host community of the Nigeria LNG Limited.

The plaintiffs had on 15th August 2022, filed the suit through their Counsel, Prof Mike Ozekhome,SAN, for themselves and on behalf of the People of Finima Community of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, suing four defendants, namely, the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Nigeria LNG Limited and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The court in its judgement held,agreeing with Ozekhome who led a team of lawyers comprising of Benson Igbanoi, Esq, Mrs Amauche Onyedum, amongst others, that, there exists a binding lease agreement between the NNPC, the NLNG Ltd and the FINIMA community; and that the community was entitled to compensation for breach of the said lease agreement.

They also complained about the Defendants’ failure to provide adequate relocation arrangements for affected members of the community which resulted in the breach of the said lease agreement and the NCDMB community guidelines.

The court also held that the plaintiffs have the locus to institute the suit in a representative capacity for the FINIMA community,as they testified and provided in court, a copy of the resolution wherein the entire community agreed to that effect.

They also, most notably, tendered an earlier judgement in rem delivered by Hon. Justice Inko-Tariah, sitting at the High Court of Rivers state, in suit no: PHC/174/72, wherein the trial Judge had declared that “all land situates and lying between FINIMA and Bonny belong to the FINIMA community represented by the Plaintiffs”.

In his decision in the case No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1419/2022, Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima.
Respondents in the suit include Nigeria LNG Limited, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The plaintiffs had asked the court, among other things, to declare Finima as the host community of NLNG rather than Bonny Kingdom, just as the company had recognised Ogbum-nu-Abali community and Amadi-Ama community as joint host communities of its Corporate Head Office in Port Harcourt rather than Rebisi Kingdom or Okrika kingdom.

The plaintiffs, who contended in the abovementioned complaint that they are the founders and proprietors of the lands in Finima, sought and received all of the reliefs granted, represented by Amauche Onyedum, a Principal Counsel in Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers.
Some of the reliefs include, “A declaration that the Plaintiffs, who sued in a representative capacity for themselves and on behalf of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima, (founders of Finima, and owners of all lands in Finima) and Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, is the host community housing the NLNG Plant and other NLNG facilities, referred to in the 2nd Defendant’s

“A declaration that the defendants’ refusal, neglect, and failure to ensure compliance with Sections 25, 26, 27, and 28(2) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and Guidelines 1.0 to 7.0 of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board – Community Content Guidelines (NCDMB-CCG), 2017, as they apply to the Plaintiffs’ land in their community before or after the Defendants’ conduct is illegal, wrongful, unconscionable, and unlawful.”

An order of perpetual injunction prohibiting the defendants from performing any additional works or operations on the site of the NLNG Plant in Finima Community until they have complied fully with the terms and conditions agreed upon by the plaintiffs and the third defendant, the provisions of the NOGICD Act 2010, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board
The management of Nigeria LNG Limited responded to the court ruling by stating that the company’s solicitors were reviewing the ruling and would respond as soon as it was appropriate.

The defendants must execute a leasing agreement between the plaintiffs and the NLNG or any other pertinent party within thirty days of the ruling, according to Hon. Justice Okorowo. The defendants were given one hundred billion naira in general damages by the judge for failing to acknowledge the plaintiffs as their host community.

The business remains committed on guaranteeing and maintaining a cordial relationship with its host community as a global gas firm, according to NLNG General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Andy Odeh, in a statement.
“Nigeria LNG Limited is aware of a decision made by the Federal High Court in Abuja on a case filed by the Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima against the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPCL, NLNG, and NCDMB, asking the court to interpret issues pertaining to host communities and the Petroleum Industry Act.

The company via Andy Udey further reiterated, “NLNG wishes to state that its lawyers are studying the decision and will react at the appropriate time.
“Nigeria LNG remains focused on ensuring cordial relationship with its host communities and remains committed to sustainable community development, peace in its areas of operation as it continues to be a to globally competitive LNG company helping to build a better Nigeria.”

The Honorable court, consequently, granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs,to wit:

  • A DECLARATION that the Plaintiffs who sued in a representative capacity for themselves and on behalf of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima, (Founders of Finima, and owners of all lands in Finima) and Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, is the host community housing the NLNG Plant and other NLNG facilities, referred to in the 2ndDefendant’s letter dated 3rd March, 1978, with reference No: GPD.001/S.1/21 50230/225, same being their ancestral homelands.
  • A DECLARATION that the refusal, failure and/or neglect by the Defendants, their representatives, aides, workers, agents, privies, and servants, to enter into a lease agreement with the Plaintiffs, and ensure compliance with the terms agreed upon by the 2ndDefendant and NCDMB Community guidelines constitutes a deprivation of the rights of the Plaintiffs as host community and a breach of the terms so agreed upon.
  • A DECLARATION that the Defendants ought not to have commenced any form of business in the Plaintiffs community without due, total and adequate compensation to and relocation of the Plaintiffs to a decent settlement which shall be in compliance with the terms duly entered into by the 2ndDefendant; and in any case not below the standards of what the Plaintiffs had enjoyed before the coming of the Defendants to their ancestral lands.
  • A DECLARATION that the Defendants’ non-compliance with the required terms, conditions and guidelines of extant laws, has had direct consequential adverse effect on the Plaintiffs, their livestock, buildings, tombs, totems, residential homes, streams, cash crops, minerals, life, means of livelihood and dignity of the human person.
  • A DECLARATION that the dealings on the said lands and alleged compensations clandestinely and surreptitiously paid to any person or persons not being the representatives of the Buoye Omuso(Brown) Major House and members of Finima Community are illegal, wrongful, unlawful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
  • A DECLARATION that the acts of the Defendants, whether by themselves, their workers, representatives, privies, servants, agents, e.t.c, in demolishing all, or any part of the structures, built and erected by the Plaintiffs in Finima community, including farmlands, economic trees, livestock, totems, relies, etc, and consfication of ancestral lands in Finima Community contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board – Community Content Guidelines (NCDMB-CCG), 2017, are therefore illegal, wrongful unlawful, unconscionable, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
  • A DECLARATION that it is, illegal, wrongful, unconscionable and unlawful for the Defendants to refuse, neglect and fail to ensure due compliance with the provisions of Sections 25, 26, 27, and 28(2) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and Guidelines 1.0 to 7.0 of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board – Community Content Guidelines (NCDMB-CCG), 2017, as they affect the Plaintiffs’ land in their community before or after the commencement of work, or soon after the coming into effect of the instant Act and guidelines by the 3rd Defendant.
  • AN ORDER directing the Defendants to effect a lease agreement between the Plaintiffs and the NLNG and or any other interested or relevant party within 30 clear days from the date judgment is delivered in favor of the Plaintiffs in this suit.
  • AN ORDER directing the Defendants to accord and award the Plaintiffs directly, their entitlements, privileges and benefits which have accrued and accruable to the Plaintiffs as host community that bear the brunt of the Defendants’ operations.
  • AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, whether by themselves, their representatives, workers, servants, agents and/or privies howsoever called, from carrying out further works or operations on the site of the NLNG Plant in Finima Community until due and total compliance with the terms and conditions agreed upon by the Plaintiffs with the 3rdDefendant, the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board – Community Content Guidelines (NCDMB-CCG), 2017, as well as other extant regulatory requirements.

finima development masterplan workshop

Finima Development Master Plan Workshop – Finima is inundated by development experts. 21/22 July 2023

Finima Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State will be receiving development experts as it announces its development masterplan, in what appears to be a blatant show of ambitious intentionality with its growth trajectory.
Dr. Alabo George-Kelly, the commissioner for works in Rivers State, Yibo Koko, the director general of the Rivers State Tourism Management Board, Professor Eucharia Nwaichi, Randolph Brown, a former member of the House of Representatives, and Jonathan Tobin, a former executive director of the Bank of Industry, are some of these experts.

A six-person committee was established at the behest of the Amadabo-In Council to help organise a workshop to start the process of creating the Finima Community Development Masterplan. In essence, the masterplan is being created in order to be ready for the advantages that Host Communities would get under the Petroleum Industry Act. Additionally, the masterplan is being developed so that the Finima Community can handle its interactions with the various levels of government, as well as with international oil and gas and associated corporations that operate on its property, in terms of development.

In light of this, the workshop was held on July 21 and 22, 2003, in the Finima Town Hall. The topics of the papers presented by the speakers, who came from a variety of professional backgrounds, included health, the environment, social services, security, GIS, relocation, exposure to hydrocarbons, engagements, politics, our lands and resources/investment opportunities, the need for infrastructure, education (human capacity development), tourism, and others. Questions were raised, clarifications were offered, and suggestions for future encounters were made during the meetings. Additionally, there were presentations on what components of the development plan should be included from the community/house’s sub-structures (Asawo, Ogbo-biri Ere Ogbo-Biri Asawo, Eremapu, FYC, Welfare Committee, etc.). These contributions are anticipated to be combined, tested, and fixed into the primary masterplan.

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Eugene Abels, Nnamdi Mbata, Dr. Robinson Sibe, Dr. Abarasi Abbey-Hart, Dr. Magdalene Iheme, and Ross Alabo-George are among the other guests listed on the invitation.
The “Finima Community Development Master Plan Workshop” is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, 2023, in the Town Hall in Finima Town, Bonny Island, with the topic “Towards An Urbanised Finima Community.”

he host of the event and Amadabo of Finima, Aseme-Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, Kongo XVII was upbeat about the positives expected from the event, noting that the development of the community is associated with its prosperity, stressing that it is important to work with relevant stakeholders to drive the process.

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Several international companies that deal with gas and crude oil, as well as the Finima Nature Park, are located in Finima, which is located at the mouth of the Bonny Channel at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The federal government’s projected Bonny Deep Seaport is also anticipated to be located there.

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Celebration of 60th Birthday of the Amadabo of Finima

Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown, the Amadabo of Finima, claims that his entire life, including all of his accomplishments, is a testament to the workings of God’s compassion and mercy.
At his 60th birthday celebration in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, on Saturday, May 6, 2023, he made this statement, thanking God Almighty for bringing him thus far in life.

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Aseme Alabo Dagogo Lambert Brown and his wife, Aseme Alabota Atonye Brown
Aseme Alabo Brown, the Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House (BOBH) of Finima, described the distinctive characteristics of the Finima Community and stated that “no be me do am, na God” could have created them. My testimony is, “What do I say to God?,” or “Ate duo Tamuno Piribem?”
“As a result, I urge us to praise God slowly. I’m not alone as long as Jesus is here with me. That is my testimony, and it is based entirely on grace. According to the Bible, God, not man, is the one who extends mercy.
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THE CELEBRANT, HIS GUESTS

He stated that “there were always those who were better than me or ahead of me,” adding that “from my educational qualifications to ascending the stool as Chief and Head of the Brown House, it was God’s grace that has always propelled me.”

“Mercy and grace go together; grace and faith go together; everything about me is God. Everything I have gone through and experienced in life has been by grace because, when I consider all the locations I have been, from school to being the Amadabo, I see that it is God.

The Chief and Paramount Head of the Edwin Tom-West Chieftaincy House of Buguma, Kalabari Se-Alabo Somina, attended the occasion, which included a vibrant audience. At a meeting held at the Finima Townhall, participants included Edwin Tom-West India, Edwin III, Iwayi-Izi I of the Rumuadaolu Clan, Chief Stephen Atuzie, Pali Alabo Felix Yellow Brown, Pali Alabo Victor Tom Brown, Alabo Senibo Frank Briggs, members of the BOBH Council of Wari-Alapu, as well as elders, women, youths, and locals.
The vicar of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church in Finima, Ven. Promise Jaja, delivered the homily. He urged everyone to follow in the footsteps of Aseme Alabo Brown and “make Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour” by attending the event.

“I have observed many admirable traits in him, but his love for God is the one that moves me the most. He is quite humble and loves God. His entire existence is centred on God’s grace.

The senior pastor of the Hilltop International Christian Centre, Reverend Chris Oarhe, who was with his wife, Dr. Stephanie Oarhe, proclaimed the anointing of Joshua and Nehemiah on the traditional ruler, and he prayed for divinely bestowed success in leadership, prosperity, and successful strategies.

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Senior Pastor, Hilltop International Christian Center, Reverend Chris Oarhe, and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Oarhe
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Celebration of 60th Birthday of the Amadabo of Finima 23

The Head Chief of the Cockeye Brown War Canoe House, Kalaomuso Polo, Alabo Edwin Cockeye Brown, and the Secretary of the BOBH Council of Wari-Alapu, Wari-Alabo Airigha Brown, paid tribute to the celebrant in their well-wishes by listing all of his admirable traits and noble virtues and pledging continued divine protection and direction over him.

Other dignitaries at the event include the Asawo Sibidabo of Buoye Omuso Brown Major House (BOBH, Igbiwari Brown, his predecessor, Tammy Brown, Chairman, Finima Youth Congress (FYC), Shedrack Brown, his predecessor, Charles Brown, Coordinator, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bonny LGA, Iwarilama Brown, Ex-Chairmen of Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC), Vivian Brown and Aladiokuma Hart, Chairman, Finima Capacity Development Committee (FCDC), Owuna Fenibo, Chairman, Finima Development Committee (FDC), and Chairman, Ayambo Community, Godswill Jumbo, amongst others.

finima palce new

Finima Palace Commissioning

The joyous atmosphere in Finima Community, Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, has already reached a climax as the community prepares for the opening of the Palace of the Amadabo of Finima today.

The different strata of Finima society were clearly lined up to represent themselves at the event scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Sonia Suu in Zone 4, Finima.

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Palace of the Amadabo of Finima

An urban development enthusiast who preferred anonymity called the palace as a “quintessential monument and an architectural masterpiece” that symbolizes the centuries-old business of the Ibani nay Ijaw people of Nigeria’s Niger Delta area.

Idatonye Lambert Brown, the former Public Relations Officer of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House (BOBH) Asawo, confirmed to Finima Media Bureau that “the palace has 250 seater capacity palace hall, executive chamber, four bedroom quarters for the Amadabo, secretariat, security control room, and watchtower.”

8b73a3cdbb7b827896ed491660f6e773 Idatonye Lambert Brown

“I’m welcoming everyone to Finima Community today to participate in our excitement as we open our Amadabo’s castle for this and future generations to see the magnificent grandeur of our cherished community, the historic Finima Community.”

According to Finima Media Bureau, tranquillity pervades the town as inhabitants go about their daily routines unaffected by anybody, a scenario strengthened by the presence of security officers drawn from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Finima Division as well as other sister security agencies.

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The Buoye-Omuso Brown Duawari, Finima Most ancient in Bonny Kingdom

To buttress our place as Buoye Omuso Brown Duawari/Major House of Finima Town. Kindly take out couple of minutes to look at and hearken to this brief however very educative video clip to display who we’re as a folks. The Buoye-Omuso Brown Duawari Most Ancient House of Finima based by Kongo son of Okuma from Ebeni Toru in Central Ijaw space of right this moment’s Bayelsa in Nigeria

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INSTALLATION OF CHIEF OF BUOYE-OMUSO BROWN MAJOR HOUSE & AMADABO OF FINIMA

GOODWILL ADDRESS BY
ASEME ALABO, HRH, ENGR DAGOGO LAMBERT BROWN
TO MEMBERS OF BUOYE OMUSO BROWN MAJOR HOUSE OF FINIMA DURING HIS FORMAL INSTALLATION AS
CHIEF & HEAD OF BUOYE OMUSO BROWN MAJOR HOUSE &
AMADABO OF FINIMA Kongo XVII, Omoni-ye-Sughu I on Wednesday 12 January 2022

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I am indeed very grateful and still remain indebted to God Almighty for the undeniable demonstration of His mercy and love towards us in Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and Finima in general; considering the turbulent journey of life we have experienced, since the exodus from our revered ancient Community in 1991. It is highly desirable to always appreciate God’s timely interventions in the affairs of the House, in rescuing and preserving her from total collapse and disintegration.

I still acknowledge the grace of God that has preserved and secured us as a family to this point in life where we can still breathe to sustain, as well as enable us to organize and provide for ourselves an all-embracing Constitution to properly direct and prudently manage the affairs of the House. It is by the provisions of this Constitution that the exercise of producing the Aseme Alabo for the House was duly conducted and emerged with Amadabo-elect, fully backed by preponderant majority support, including well-meaning and prominent members of the House.

Let me pause here and look at the much matured faces of all the accredited members of Council of Warialapu and applaud their courage and resilience in executing this assiduous exercise of producing the Aseme Alabo for the House through an obvious stormy weather of obnoxious and futile litigation missiles. Yet you are able to surmount and silence all the opposing voices of error; for the will of God to prevail.

Today is a memorable milestone in our history as one of the aboriginal and founding Houses of Bonny Kingdom in the Ibani nation; being honoured to address this great ancestral founding House and the entire Community in the capacity as Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and Amadabo Of Finima; I am indeed most humbled as a chief servant to administer the will of Almighty God for my people.

My emergence as Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and Amadabo of Finima is not and can never be a personal achievement; BUT a huge victory for the House over age long satanic manipulations and oppressions. It is a way forward Victory for the Buoye Omuso Brown House. It is a Victory with Axes and Swords to cut off and terminate all forms and fashions of resistances and repressiveness for the total recovery and restoration of every broken wall in the House.

I strongly believe that my divine emergence as a Chief servant; is the outcome of my over 40 years of consistent service and close interaction with all our past and recently demised leadership of the House and from which affinity I imbibed certain basic norms and values of the House; that had groomed me to become emotionally attached and sensitive to the yearnings and sentiments of the average Buoye Omuso Brown House element. As a chief servant to this great House, the application of servant-leadership principles shall be my best fit to actualize the beneficial deliverables for our people.

I will continue to serve my people with selfless zeal, unalloyed loyalty and genuine passion for the stability and peaceful coexistence of the House, as well as ensure the prudent management of her resources.
Over 30 years of my meaningful engagements with the oil and gas business in Nigeria, has afforded me huge work life experiences, as well as exposed me with the necessary global tour and relevance. Apt with our Community and the Buoye Omuso Brown House in particular, being the landlord to all the oil and gas outfits in Bonny Island; I have the experience relevant with their modus operandi, which is key to us as a family and Finima people.
My constant key outlook for the Buoye Omuso Brown House is to evolve sustainable stability of the House, through the deployment of administrative systems that will run all the existing structures and leadership strata in the House, such that no single Head, including my humble self can have the freedom to run any personal agenda to the detriment of the House and the Community.

I cannot claim to be able to do all these alone without ensuring relative harmonious working relationship amongst us as brethren that dwell from one family pot. I also do not know it all, nor claim to have solution to all the issues in the House; but the evident grace of God upon my life, has built in me the capacity of harnessing the enormous human and material resources in the House for her benefit.

Let me also humbly appeal for the genuine support and collaboration of all members of the House both at home and abroad as brethren of one family; in joining forces together to consolidate our unified stand on whom we are, where we are and what we have in our God given space on this Earth in the continent of Africa, in Rivers State of Nigeria and in Bonny Island.

I deliberately would like to express few basic facts for the benefit of our fast growing youths, to avoid being misled.

  • Finima was founded by the ancestors of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House, being the first arrivals on the island far before Bonny came to stay. (See G I Jones pg. 105)
  • Finima is owned by the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and has remained so from genesis. (See Suit No. PHC/174/72)
  • Finima is not a three Chieftaincy Community.
  • The Buoye Omuso Brown Major House has three Minor Chieftaincy Houses namely; Adum (Tamunobere), Attoni (Doughubo) and Tobin (Konibo) Chieftaincy Houses.
  • The Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House is the Paramount Chief of Finima, otherwise known as the Amadabo Of Finima.
  • There are currently thirteen sub-family units in the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House, whose headships constitute the Council of Warialapu of the House.
  • These sub-family units include; Akpa, Cross, Dupuyo, Eli, Goro, Goni, Hart-Brown, Iyariari, Owari, Owupele, Papanye, Sughu and Tamunobere.

This information must be fundamental as key basic facts for all sons and daughters of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House of Finima.

Let me use the opportunity of this maiden address in my capacity as the Chief and Head of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House to formally reaffirm the use of the tittle of Warialabo and or Warialapu for all subsisting members of my Council in line with the provisions of our Constitution. Accordingly, I hereby direct all Warialapu to constitute their Burusu Wariseniapu as soon as possible for subsequent presentation to the Amadabo-in-Council. This is aimed at closing out the squabbling in this direction.

Indeed, the stable governance of the House calls for an all-inclusive collaboration from all well-meaning members of the House both at home and abroad. I will provide the enabling environment of cross-pollinating resourceful initiatives /ideas, as well as sieving them and translating such outcomes into beneficial realities for the House and the entire Community.

May I sincerely appeal to our brothers that are currently in court against the House to please sheath their swords and return home for harmonious resolution. Our continuous contentions in courts have not in real terms resolved issues for us, rather than continuously drain the resources of the House. I personally see every financial drain to court litigation as a limiting radical to the number of our secondary, university and post graduate students that the House is presently supporting. It is preferable to exhaust all options of dialogue and arbitration within the reach of the family before entering the lane of court litigation. No two or three persons can be Chief and Head the House at the same time. It is only God Almighty that divinely chooses one through people, just as He assigned us to our parents; because no child is given the opportunity to choose parent. Leaders are ordained by God at every point in life. We necessarily do not have to like them. They are placed to fulfil God’s purpose. I hereby beseech us as brethren of this great House to eschew all manner of bitterness and rancour detrimental to our betterment and peaceful coexistence as one indivisible entity

In same vain above, I also extend genuine hand of fellowship to our Doughubo and Konibo brotherhood, as Minor Chieftaincy Houses that sprang from the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House; to avail themselves for progressive dialogue and collaboration that will benefit us all as Finima people. The essence of equity amongst brethren is better comprehended with a sincere pursuit of purpose. Otherwise when equity is misconstrued for equality amongst brethren, then rebellion is inevitable. It therefore means that continuous engagements amongst brethren are key to a better understanding of their individual differences. May I state here that my Warialapu and I are available and open to such healthy engagements that will progress us a Community.

My dear brethren of Buoye Omuso Brown House, the vision of ‘‘Simini famam Finima’’ (meaning poverty has ended in Finima) in the midst of the giant hydrocarbon industries on our land can only be actualize by our collective resolve and determination to strengthen the development institutions being set up to represent Finima’s interest on developmental issues, such as Finima Development Committee and Finima Capacity Development Committee. As owners of Finima lands and landlord to all the multi-national outfits on the Island, it is therefore incumbent on us that we take ownership of Finima development matters, including the much heralded local content issue of ‘‘Finima NLNG Host Community’’ matter. All hands are therefore expected to be committed on deck for the realization of this vision.

Finally, I wish you all the best as I look forward to your positive response and cooperation now and always.

God bless us all
Long live BOBH
Long live Finima
Long live Bonny Kingdom

THE INVASION OF FINIMA WITH ARMED THUGS ON 22ND JANUARY, 2022 AT FINIMA

BUOYE OMUSO (BROWN) MAJOR HOUSE(…Bilafiene Kingifari…)POSITION STATEMENT BY THE BUOYE OMUSO BROWN MAJOR HOUSEON THE INCIDENT OF THE INVASION OF FINIMA WITH ARMED THUGS ON THEINSTRUCTION OF THE KING OF BONNY ON 22ND JANUARY, 2022 AT FINIMA

We, the council of Elders and members of the Buoye OmusoDuawari (Founding and Aboriginal) House of Finima hereby bring to your notice the invasion of our Community by armed agents of the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, (hereinafter referred to as the King of Bonny) to destabilise through violence and cause anarchy in Finima Community.

The King of Bonny and some members of his Chiefs’ Council in conjunction with some mischief makers and miscreants in Finima deliberately decided to engage in absurdity and action which broke down law and order, caused bodily injury and destroyed property in Finima Community.

On the 12th of January 2022, the Council of Warialapu (Family unit heads) and members of Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima, in accordance with our custom and tradition and in line with the Constitution of the House proclaimed and installed the Chief of the House in the person of Aseme Alabo Engr .Dagogo Lambert Brown at the Palace of the Buoye Omuso Brown House. This exercise was peacefully done( as witnessed by some of the security agencies in Finima) with preponderant support of vast majority of members of the House.

It is very surprising to observe that in the morning of 21st January 2022, at the instruction and direction of the King of Bonny, some Chiefs of the Bonny Chiefs Council, namely Chief Captain Reginald Abbey-Hart, Chief Haniel Jack-Wilson Pepple and Chief (Amb) Claude Wilcox with a bid to destabilise our Community, surreptitiously picked and purportedly installed one Mr. Evans Clement Brown as a Chief in a bid to impose him on us as the Chief of Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima which is absolutely contrary to all known custom and traditions of our people and all these took place at Captain Hart’s Opuwari (Hart House Palace). These actions have indeed culminated to violence and anarchy in Finima Community.

The King of Bonny in a bid to destabilise our House and create chaos in Finima to enable him control the economy of Finima Community, masterminded through direct instructions to fraudulently install and to forcefully impose the said Mr. Evans Clement Brown, a person of his choice on our people which is grossly averse to our custom and traditions.

At about 5.00 pm of 22nd January, 2022, after the presentation and reception of the purportedly installed Mr. Evans Clement Brown by the King of Bonny, the King armed some youths led by Dagogo Fanyeofori Jumbo alias Opumingi, Emmanuel Fine Country, Isobonye Brown-West, Emmanuel Hart, Michael Manila Pepple, Mackson Tolofari and Michael Alali Pepple with machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons with stern instructions to take the purportedly installed Mr. Evans Clement Brown to the Buoye Omuso Brown House Palace and sit him on the throne of our Ancestors as chief and head of our House. Nothing could be more annoying and provocative than the effrontery exhibited by the King of Bonny and his armed agents.

What the king of Bonny and his agents have just done is a deliberate manipulation and distortion of History of the Finima people and the Buoye Omuso House in particular, aimed at actualising their obnoxious and parochial interest. Since the genesis of the Buoye Omuso Brown House, there had been no time that the Hart House crowns or caps the Head of Buoye Omuso Brown House. The worthy friendly relationship between Brown and Hart Houses stems from when Omuso was rescued from a slave ship by King Fubara. An act done by his jealous brothers. Omuso was handed to Captain Hart for guidance. Omuso was trained as Ship Captain, while in the abode of Captain Hart. He made Ibianga mina (Good relationship) with Captain Hart family members, some of who followed him upon his return back to Finima. This has nothing to do with Omuso Chieftaincy and was vividly clarified in our Finima ownership suit PHC/174/72, as well as A J Alagoa and Fumbo (Page 65) citing Omuso as being first Captain to King Opubo Pepple. We hereby challenge the King of Bonny and the Bonny Chiefs Council to show proofs of valid documents and pictures from Omuso to late Aseme Alabo Yibo Buowari Brown to corroborate their frivolous and untenable claims of the capping or crowning of Buoye Omuso Brown House Chief by Hart House of Bonny.

Buoye Omuso in ibani means Omuso the son of Buo. It is only pardonable for Ibo speaking Ibani Chiefs who struggle to understand even the meaning of the name of their House. How come you acknowledged our nickname – Brown only, without knowing our original Ibani names. This grossly exposes your ignorance and emptiness in our culture and history. You do not have the capacity to do any form of alterations to the name of our House. The Chieftaincy era in Bonny Kingdom commence in the reign of Omuso as the 11th Clan Head of Finima. It is by this reason we are Buoye Omuso (Brown) Chieftaincy House. It is noteworthy to state here that traditional leadership in Bonny Kingdom precedes Perekule Chieftaincy era. It is well known in Bonny history that before the Perekule dynasty other kings such Awusa (Halliday) and others including Ipuo (one of the ancestors of Buoye Omuso Brown House) have ruled Bonny Kingdom.

For the benefit of doubt, the leadership of the Buoye Omuso Brown House will not allow any external intrusion or interloping in the installation (or as the king and his council of chiefs called it capping) of the head and Chief of the House.

You may be educated, if you so desire of what you termed bogus (ASEME). Aseme in Ibani language means and referred to a prefix title peculiarly referring to elements or members of the aboriginal founding houses of Bonny Kingdom.

Furthermore there was only one chieftaincy house in Finima before 1936 which is the Buoye Omuso Brown House under which such subfamily units namely Adum, Attoni, Akpa, Goni, Cross, Eli, Owupele, Igbiosiagha, Goro, Sughu, Dupuyo, Konibo, Owari, Papanye, Iyariari and Fibibo and they all lived peaceably under one governance. At the visit of the early European explorers, they noticed the overwhelming control and distinguished leadership prowess of Jack Omini Brown and referred to him as the Governor General of Finima. To buttress the fact that the Attoni and Konibo (Tobin) were sub-faimily units under Buoye Omuso Brown House. Please see foot note on page 129 of G.I. Jones, Trading States of Oil Rivers and the affidavit of late Chief Samuel Owunabo Tobin in support of the suit number P/21/549 of 1959.

Further note that what the Bonny Council referred to as ‘‘Macabre dance’’ was actually the display of our true and authentic custom and traditions of the Ibani people in which the Council of Warialapu and preponderance of members of Buoye Omuso Brown (Duawari) House installed and coronated the Aseme Alabo of our House who is in person of Aseme Alabo Engr Dagogo Lambert Brown as the true and authentic head of Buoye Omuso Brown (Duawari) House of

Finima in Bonny Local Government Area. Ironically the farce of the clandestine installation in a secret location, later found out to be the Captain Hart’s Opuwari (Captain Hart Palace), of Evans Clement Brown is the satirical comedy of the macabre dance.

In conclusion we believe that respect begets respect. If the Amanyanabo in Council does not respect and recognise the Council of Warialapu (Family unit heads) of Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima whose responsibility it is to nominate, proclaim and install the Aseme Alabo of Buoye Omuso Brown (Duawari) House of Finima, how do they expect members of Buoye Omuso Brown House to respect and recognise the tyrannical and despotic leadership of the Amanyanabo of Bonny and his Council of Chiefs.

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