DSS Sues Pat Utomi Over Shadow Government Plan.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has initiated legal action against Prof. Pat Utomi, the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over his proposal to establish a shadow government in Nigeria. The suit, filed on 13 May 2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, accuses Utomi of attempting to destabilise the country and undermine the Constitution.
The DSS, represented by a legal team led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argues that Utomi’s planned shadow government is an unconstitutional aberration that threatens the democratically elected government. The agency contends that such a structure could incite political unrest, exacerbate intergroup tensions, and encourage separatist movements, posing a significant risk to national security.
The plaintiff seeks a court declaration that Utomi’s proposed “shadow government or cabinet” is unconstitutional and an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognised by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The DSS also requests a perpetual injunction to prevent Utomi and his associates from taking further steps towards establishing or operating such an entity, citing Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, which affirm its supremacy and prohibit governance outside its provisions.
The suit, yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing, comes amid Utomi’s recent unveiling of a shadow government under the Big Tent Coalition. Described as a “national emergency response,” the initiative aims to provide a credible opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, addressing what Utomi calls deteriorating economic and security conditions.
However, the move has garnered support from Prof. Anthony Kila, a renowned political economist and Director of the Commonwealth Institute for Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS). Speaking at the Cambridge African Round Table (CARt), Kila endorsed Utomi’s shadow cabinet, stating he sees nothing wrong with the idea and fully supports it. The CARt is an international platform for scholars, diplomats, and leaders focused on African and global policy solutions.
The legal battle and public discourse highlight ongoing tensions between opposition initiatives and government authorities, with Utomi’s plan sparking debate over the boundaries of political opposition in Nigeria.