In a statement posted on his official X account, Professor Pat Utomi, a respected scholar and former presidential candidate, said he is receiving support from concerned Nigerians who have begun mobilising 500 lawyers to represent him in court after he had confirmed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has taken him to court over his plan to establish a shadow government in Nigeria.
“It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS,” Utomi stated.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses Utomi of plotting to destabilise the country by creating what the DSS calls an unconstitutional and dangerous structure outside the current government. The suit, presented on May 13 by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Akinlolu Kehinde, describes Utomi’s move as a direct assault on Nigeria’s Constitution and a threat to the democratic system.
DSS Accuses Utomi of Destabilising Nigeria
According to the DSS, Utomi’s proposed shadow government is not only illegal but also a deliberate attempt to sow unrest across the country. The security agency claims the initiative is meant to mimic a parallel government, which it believes could trigger public confusion and potentially incite political instability.
The DSS said in the suit that such an act should not be ignored, noting it is a “grave attack on the Constitution and the current democratic government.” Utomi, who contested for Nigeria’s presidency in 2007 under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was listed as the only defendant in the case.
Public Reactions Mixed as Sowore Dismisses the Plan
While Utomi says he’s encouraged by the solidarity messages he’s received nationwide, some political figures remain skeptical. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore labelled the move symbolic and pointless, arguing that a shadow government won’t solve Nigeria’s pressing governance failures.
Speaking on Channels TV, Sowore said, “How do you replace a shadow government with another set of shadowy governments? I would not begrudge anybody who thinks of solutions that can bring awareness to the people. But I do not think that setting up a government with names of people who call themselves a shadow government makes any difference.”
Despite the criticisms, Utomi insists his intentions are noble. “I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets. They remind me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all,” he said.
Battle Lines Drawn Over Constitutionality
The faceoff between Pat Utomi and the DSS is likely to test the limits of constitutional interpretation in Nigeria. With hundreds of lawyers reportedly ready to back Utomi, and the DSS determined to stop what it describes as a threat to national stability, this legal and political battle is far from over.
