The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Department of State Services (DSS) permission to serve court papers on Pat Utomi regarding his alleged plans to establish a shadow government in Nigeria. The ruling was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who approved an ex parte motion filed by DSS counsel Akinlolu Kehinde.
The DSS had approached the court seeking a declaration that the proposed shadow government was unconstitutional, arguing that it amounted to creating a parallel authority not recognized by the Nigerian Constitution. The agency also requested a perpetual injunction restraining Utomi and his associates from taking further steps toward establishing or operating such a government.
The DSS contended that the initiative undermines constitutional democracy and poses a threat to national security. It claimed that Utomi and his associates had publicly announced the formation of the shadow government through various platforms, including social media.
During the hearing, Kehinde provided Utomi’s Lagos address and requested that the court allow service of the documents via courier. Justice Omotosho granted the request and scheduled the case for hearing on June 25.
The DSS maintains that the Nigerian Constitution prohibits the governance of the country outside its provisions and argues that Utomi’s initiative could incite political unrest and intergroup tensions. The upcoming hearing will determine the legal standing of the DSS’s claims and the future of Utomi’s shadow government proposal.
