The Briggs family is a prominent and influential lineage in Rivers State, Nigeria, deeply embedded in royalty, chieftaincy, and leadership within Kalabari land.
The family's prominence rose significantly through the Oruwari-Briggs House, previously led by the late High Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs,[2] popularly known as O.B.
The conflict led to the dispersion of the population, with people settling in new areas based on strategic alliances rather than biological or familial ties.
This period marked the beginning of significant changes in the political and social structure of the Kalabari Kingdom, ultimately reshaping the region's history.
Their influence extends far beyond Rivers State, with family members residing in various cities worldwide, contributing significantly across different sectors.
He serves as the chairman and CEO of DLB Group,[8] a conglomerate with diverse interests in the oil, gas, and marine industries.
She founded the non-governmental organization Agape Birthrights and has served as the spokesperson for the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA) and the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) as of 2011.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, another key member of the family, is the current head of the Oruwari-Briggs House[18] (Iniikeiroari VI).
Lulu-Briggs was a towering figure, serving as the Paramount Head of the Oruwari-Briggs War-Canoe House of Abonnema, and holding esteemed titles such as Iniikeiroari V of Kalabari Kingdom and Oruwari VI.
Lulu-Briggs, has emerged as chairman and chief executive of Moni Pulo Limited[20] (MPL), guiding the company with the same visionary approach that her late husband was known for.
Dr. Seinye's career began in the Computer Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria,[21] where she honed the skills that would later propel her to success in the private sector.
Dr. Seinye alleges that her late husband's sons are obstructing her from performing the burial rites, accusing them of harassment and attempts to undermine her role as the widow.
[28] The sons, led by Dumo Lulu-Briggs, have accused Dr. Seinye of being responsible for their father's death, a charge that has further fueled the family feud.
In June 2019, the conflict took a dramatic turn when Dr. Seinye was detained by the Nigerian Immigration Service upon her return from an overseas trip.
This incident, along with a previous detention by police from the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Abuja, where Dr. Seinye was held for five hours, was seen by many as part of a broader effort to intimidate her by her stepsons.
Lulu-Briggs and other siblings took legal action against their father in multiple courts, including those in Abuja, Lagos, Houston, and London, in a bid to seize control of Moni Pulo Limited, the family's oil exploration company.
Lulu-Briggs successfully defended his position in court, leading to two settlements in which he symbolically “bought” the purported shares of his three eldest sons—Senibo, Dumo, and Sofiri.
Lulu-Briggs’ death, the sons appear to be renewing their efforts to claim their father's assets, a move Dr. Seinye believes is aimed at pushing her aside and disregarding the interests of the family's other children.
As a member of the National Party of Nigeria, he made significant contributions to the political landscape of Rivers State.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, another prominent member of the family, has actively pursued political leadership on a larger scale.
[34] His repeated candidacy underscores the family's enduring influence and continued ambition to shape the political future of Rivers State.