Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to right sidebar Skip to footer

Tag: Nigeria

Page 1 of 3
1 2 3

🏝️ 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.

Appeal Court Dismisses Evans Clement Brown’s Case, Affirms Aseme-Alabo Engr. (Dr) Dagogo Lambert Brown as Paramount Ruler and Amadabo of Finima

Port Harcourt, Nigeria — 9 September 2025

The leadership of the Finima community in Bonny Local Government Area has been decisively settled once again, following today’s ruling by the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, which dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Evans Clement Brown for want of jurisdiction.

Delivering judgment between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., Hon. Justice Oluwayemisi E. Williams-Dawodu, sitting with Hon. Justice Hannatu Azumi Laja-Balogun and a third Justice, held that the appeal was incompetent and struck out the entire proceedings. The ruling leaves Aseme-Alabo Engr. Dr. Dagogo Lambert Brown (Kongo XVII) as the undisputed Chief, Paramount Ruler and Amadabo of Finima.

Case History and Legal Background

The dispute dates back to the Rivers State High Court ruling of 5 October 2022, delivered in Suit No. PHC/1329/CS/2022, where an interlocutory injunction restrained Mr Evans Clement Brown from parading himself as Chief of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House (BOBH).

In response, Mr Brown attempted to appeal. However, he only filed his Notice of Appeal on 6 April 2023, almost five months after the ruling—well outside the statutory timeline. Crucially, he had not obtained the necessary leave of court before doing so.

On 21 November 2023, Mr Brown returned with a fresh application seeking three prayers:

  1. Extension of time to seek leave to appeal;
  2. Leave to appeal;
  3. Extension of time to file a notice of appeal.

The Court of Appeal heard arguments but found the application defective.

Today’s Ruling

Pronouncing judgment, Justice Dawodu stated:

“The application is refused and dismissed. The entire appeal and all related processes are struck out for want of jurisdiction. Parties shall bear their respective costs. I find the appeal incompetent.”

With those words, the Court of Appeal confirmed that Mr Brown’s challenge had collapsed entirely, leaving Engr. Dr. Dagogo Lambert Brown (Kongo XVII) as the legitimate and recognised Paramount Ruler of Finima.

The appeal was entered as Appeal No. CA/PH/331/2023.

Community Reactions

The courtroom pronouncement was met with relief and celebration among supporters of the Brown Omuso Major House, who said it vindicated years of struggle for clarity.

One elder described the judgment as “a triumph for law, tradition and the peace of Finima”. Outside the court, others called it “a divine victory that ends unnecessary distractions.”

Engr. Tamunofiniarisa Brown, who witnessed the proceedings, noted:
“This ruling is historic. It restores dignity to our traditional stool and clears the path for unity and progress in Finima.”

Implications for Finima

The affirmation of Engr. (Dr) Dagogo Lambert Brown’s leadership consolidates stability in Finima at a time when the community hosts major energy projects, including facilities of Nigeria LNG (NLNG). Analysts say clarity in traditional leadership is crucial for both cultural cohesion and negotiations with corporate and governmental stakeholders.

Conclusion

With today’s ruling, the Court of Appeal has not only dismissed Evans Clement Brown’s appeal but also struck out the entire proceedings, effectively closing the chapter on a long-standing succession dispute.

For the people of Finima, this represents more than a legal triumph; it is a reaffirmation of tradition, legitimacy, and communal peace.

Congratulations to the Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House and Finima.
God bless Finima.

NSE Honours Engr Dr Dagogo Lambert Brown with Prestigious Fellowship

The Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) has conferred its prestigious Fellowship on Engr. Dr. Dagogo Lambert Brown, a renowned professional and distinguished community leader. The ceremony, held recently, recognised his exemplary contributions to engineering, leadership, and national development.

Engr. Dr. Dagogo Lambert Brown, who currently serves as the Head and Alabo of the Buoye Omuso Brown Royal House and Amadabo of Finima, bears the traditional title of Kongo the VII. His dual role as both a seasoned engineer and a traditional ruler underscores a unique blend of technical excellence and cultural stewardship.

A long-standing member of the NSE, his elevation to the rank of Fellow is a testament to decades of professional dedication, academic distinction, and impactful service. His engineering career spans various sectors, where he has demonstrated innovative thinking and unwavering commitment to national progress.

He was accompanied to the event by prominent Alapu (chiefs), including Alabo Abinye Owen Brown, Alabo Tuonimi Iyariari, Mr. Kariibi Idamieibi Brown, and a host of other dignitaries. His wife, Mrs. Atonye Dagogo Lambert Brown, was also present to celebrate this landmark achievement.

Beyond the technical realm, Dr. Dagogo Lambert Brown’s influence as Amadabo of Finima has brought renewed focus to community development, heritage preservation, and youth empowerment in the Finima, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. He is widely respected for his advocacy on sustainable development and indigenous rights within the Niger Delta.

The conferment of Fellowship marks a significant milestone in his career and reaffirms the NSE’s commitment to honouring engineers who embody excellence, integrity, and leadership both in profession and in society.

—
By Engr. Tamunofiniarisa Brown

Page 1 of 3
1 2 3