The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe, has been convicted and sentenced to jail.
A ruling by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on Thursday, January 9, saw Runsewe being sentenced to jail for contempt of court. The judge, Jude Okeke, ordered that Runsewe should be held in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kuje “until he purges himself of contempt.”
The judge described Mr. Runsewe’s actions as highly contemptuous and directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest him immediately and hand him over to the NCS pending when he retraces his steps. This decision was made to 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 the 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 a court order made on December 15, 2017.
Runsewe’s sentencing comes months after he referred to the popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Bobrisky, as a national disgrace.