A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered Warialabo Jasper Jumbo to appear before it on Thursday, October 22, 2026, following allegations that he engaged in activities capable of interfering with a pending chieftaincy dispute involving the Jumbo Major House of Grand Bonny Kingdom.
The order was issued by the presiding judge, Justice Ngbor Abina, after counsel to the claimants in Suit No. WHC/73/2019 raised concerns over alleged clandestine meetings and the setting up of a Chieftaincy Screening Committee to select a new Paramount Chief for the Jumbo Major House.
The activities, according to the claimants’ lawyers, relate directly to the subject matter of the case currently before the court.
Presenting the complaint, counsel to the claimants, Abdul Kadir, (SAN) drew the court’s attention to what he described as contemptuous actions by Warialabo Jasper Jumbo. Kadir reportedly informed the court that video evidence of the alleged activities had already been submitted, warning that failure to address the situation immediately could undermine the judicial process and interfere with the determination of the matter.
In response, counsel to Warialabo Jasper Jumbo expressed surprise at the allegations, informing the court that he had contacted his client by telephone and that his client denied the claims. The defence counsel further argued that his client had been quoted out of context by the publishers of the information.
Following the submissions, Justice Abina ordered Warialabo Jasper Jumbo to appear before the court, with a ruling also expected on an application for joinder filed by Se-Alabo Clinton Dan Jumbo.
The case, being heard at the Okrika High Court under Suit No. WHC/73/2019, is between Warialabo Sodienye Jumbo and others, as claimants, and Amaopusenibo Wilson Jumbo and others, as defendants.
The suit challenges the November 15, 2019, election and installation of Chief Dr. Tamunoala Chapp-Jumbo, JP, as the Paramount Chief and Head of the Jumbo Major House of Grand Bonny Kingdom.
Speaking to Kristina Reports outside the courtroom on Thursday October 22, 2026, counsel to Se-Alabo Clinton Dan Jumbo, an interested party seeking for joinder in the matter, Chief Eugene Odey, said the court had issued a restraining order directing parties to refrain from taking further steps capable of interfering with the proceedings.
According to Odey, the order restrains the third set of defendants, including the claimants and other interested parties in the suit, from undertaking any action that could jeopardise the proceedings or prejudice the court’s eventual decision. He stressed that all parties were expected to respect the court’s directives and maintain the existing situation until the substantive issues before the court were determined.
“A restraining order has been issued, restraining all parties from taking further steps in respect of the subject matter of the Jumbo House, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.”
Odey warned that any party who proceeded with actions capable of affecting the outcome of the case could be compelled by the court to maintain the status quo pending the final determination of the dispute.
“Now that there is an express order of court that parties must not tamper with the rest, and that the status quo should be maintained, if any party flouts this order, that party risks the chance of being remanded in prison custody for contempt of court.”
Odey concluded that the matter has been adjourned to the 23rd of November 2026 for hearing of the application for joinder.
