A federal high court sitting in Kenya has ordered the arrest of Lupita Nyong'o’s father and aunt.
The news has come as a surprise not only because of the status of the award-winning Hollywood actress but because her father, Anyang' Nyong'o is a governor in Kenya.
The order for the arrests was made by High Court Lady Justice Tripsisa Cherere. She has mandated the Kisumu County Commander, Benson Maweu executes the arrests immediately.
The reason for the arrest is as a result of contempt of court. The judge issued the arrest warrants for Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o and his sister Risper Nyagoy (Lupita’s father and aunt) because they failed to honor court summons.
Nephews of Lupita Nyong'o’s father had dragged him and his sister before the courts for failing to include them on the inheritance list of Hesbone Shimei Nyong'o multimillion-shilling estate. Hesbone Shimei Nyong'o is the late father of Governor Anyang' Nyong'o.
After the case was brought before Lady Justice Tripsisa Cherere’s court on October 11, 2018, she ordered the accused to submit books of account of their father's Hesbone Shimei Nyong'o multimillion-shilling estate. But the governor and her sister refused, despite continuous summons served to them.
In addition to issuing their warrants for arrest, Lady Justice Tripsisa Cherere has committed the two accused to civil jail for one month.
The courts had earlier fined them Sh 400, 000 each for contempt of court on May 30, 2019. She also ordered that they pay Sh 50, 000 for every month they fail to submit the books of account.
Since the news of the arrest was released, neither Lupita Nyong'o nor the office of Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has released a statement.
Kenyans and the world, in general, are watching to see how events unfold.
We will keep you updated on relevant updates.
Header Image Credit: Yahoo