Wetin be 'Shadow govment' and why DSS drag Pat Utomi go court

Nigeria secret police, di Department of State Security [DSS] drag ogbonge Nigeria Political Economist, Pat Utomi go court sake of 'Shadow Govment'.

Justice James Omotosho of di Federal High Court, Abuja, give order on Monday 29 September, 2025 wey restrain Pat Utomi, and im associates make dem no kontinu wit dia plan to establish shadow govment or cabinet for di kontri.

Justice Omotosho issue di order for di judgment ontop di suit wey di DSS file.

Dis dey come afta DSS tok say dem bin gada through monitoring and intelligence reports say Utomi, wey bin dey abroad and wey bin suppose comeback on June 6 bin dey plan "to stage road shows and rallies under di guise of freedom of speech and association in a bid to cause public discontent to further push to establish di purported 'shadow govment/shadow cabinet."

But for di Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice James Omotosho declare say di concept of shadow govment or cabinet dey unconstitutional and na alien [foreign] concept to di presidential system of govment wey Nigeria dey run.

Di judge add say Utomi and im associates no go fit hide under di rights to associate and to criticise di govment as dia reason to engage in unlawful activities.

Court add say e dey within di right of DSS to take steps to prevent acts wey fit threaten di internal security of di nation.

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How dis mata start

Di DSS bin tok say na on May 26, during di fourth edition of di Topaz Lecture Series, wey dem title "Shadow Government: A Distraction or Necessity",wey di University of Lagos (Unilag) Mass Communication Class of 1988 Alumni Association bin host, Oga Pat Utomi bin make statements, wey bin dey capable of undermining di pending suit.

Nigeria secret police add say for di statements, wey different national newspapers bin tok about and for social media platforms too, Utomi bin defend di creation of di planned shadow govment and im say if di suit succeeds or e favour di DSS, im and im group go adopt a different name.

DSS bin add say dem don serve Utomi di originating process for di suit and im don enta appearance through im Counsel Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN) since May 20, 2025.

"Di defendant/respondent (Utomi) dey aware of di pendency of dis action bifor dis Honourable Court as we don serve am with di originating process for dis suit by courier as ordered by dis honourable court.

"Unless dis honourable court intervene by granting dis application, di defendant/respondent acts fit foist a fait accompli on di court.

Local media Channels add say for one supporting affidavit, di DSS say di intention of Utomi "na to stage road shows and rallies wey dey capable of drawing a large number of Nigerians wit di intent wey go cause huge disruption of peace, breakdown of public order, enable riots and violent protests just as e bin happun for di 2020 "End SARS" protests.

Di Department of State Services bin make am clear say dem no bo wan arrest anybody sake of di proposed shadow govment wey di group wey Pat Utomi, former 2007 presidential candidate of di African Democratic Congress [ADC)] dey lead.

Wetin be Shadow Govment?

According to di Oxford African Politics, Shadow Govment na a system of governance wey some pipo dey come togeda to form a parallel govment.

Mostly, na a coalition of domestic leaders, local intermediaries, and foreign companies, and dem go make am dey formal so dat dem go draw attention form di main power wey dey lead di kontri or organization.

For serious cases di shadow govment dey almost dey in charge secretly and na dem dey run tins as dem go dey also criticise di main govment.

Oda scholars describe am as formal political opposition structure, conspiracy theory about secret cabal, or any unofficial group wey dey show political power secretly.

According to Justice Omotosho, she don search di Nigeria constitution, and no part support shadow or parallel govment.

With reference to Section 1(1) and (2) of di 1999 Constitution, di judge tok say di all citizens must follow di Constitution

"Di Nigerian constitution no create room for shadow govment.

"Diafore, any participation for govment wey dey unknown to law go dey struck down by dis court.

"I hereby declare di formation as void," di judge rule.