GODSWILL TAMUNOBARAIMI BEN STOWE & 2ORS V. CHIEF EMMANUEL DIEPIRI STOWE & 2 ORS

NSOFOR, JCA, (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The claims of the plaintiffs endorsed on the writ by which this action was commenced were as follows:-

“1. A declaration that - the installation of the first defendant as Chief Godswill Tamunobaraimi Ben. Stowe withoutthe knowledge and consent of the Banigo house of Bonny and the Stowe house of Bonny under Bonny native law and custom is null and void.

(b) no such sub-house as Ben. Stowe in the Stowe house of the Banigo group of houses in Bonny exists under Bonny custom and tradition.

(c) the creation of a Ben. Stowe Chieftaincy unit and the recognition by the Bonny chiefs council of Godswill Tamunobaraimi Ben. Stowe as chief of Ben. Stowe house on July, 22nd 1978 were ultra vires and void.

(d) the only associate chieftaincy unit in the Banigo group of Houses  of Bonny established in Bonny history with relevant appellation is the Stowe house.

(e) the incumbent of the Stowe house is Chief Emmanuel Diepiri (Ibanifieresi) Stowe, the first pl…