Court sentences Olusegun Runsewe to jail months after he called Bobrisky a national disgrace

The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe, has been sentenced to jail.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on Thursday, January 9, convicted and sentenced Runsewe to jail  for contempt of court. The judge, Jude Okeke, who gave the order, said Mr Runsewe should be kept in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kuje “until he purges himself of contempt.”

The judge described Mr Runsewe’s act as highly contemptuous and ordered that the Inspector General of Police should arrest Mr Runsewe with immediate effect and hand him over to the NCS pending when he retraces his steps. He said this would serve as a deterrent to others who abuse office and disobey court orders with disdain.

Justice Jude Okeke made the order while ruling on a motion drawn from a suit filed by Ummakalif Limited against Minister of the FCT, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), DG of NCAC, and the Minister for Culture and Tourism, as the first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

In the motion, the claimant sought an order of the court committing Runsewe to prison for contempt of court order made on December 15, 2017. 

Runsewe’s sentencing comes months after he called popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Bobrisky a national disgrace.