DSS Seeks Court Order To Restrain Patrick Utomi From Staging Shadow Government Rallies.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has urgently requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to issue an injunction preventing Professor Patrick Utomi, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), from organising rallies, road shows, or public engagements related to his proposed “shadow government” in Nigeria.
In a fresh application filed on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the DSS, through its legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Akinlolu Kehinde, expressed concerns over intelligence reports suggesting that Utomi, currently abroad, plans to return to Nigeria on 6 June to launch a series of protests, road shows, and media campaigns. The security agency argues that such activities, conducted under the guise of freedom of speech and association, risk inciting public discontent and disrupting peace, potentially echoing the chaos of the 2020 End SARS protests.
The DSS’s application seeks an interlocutory injunction to restrain Utomi, his agents, associates, or anyone acting on his behalf from staging rallies, public lectures, media appearances, or any form of public outreach promoting the objectives of the so-called shadow government until the substantive suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, is resolved. The agency contends that these actions “constitute a serious threat to the public order, safety, and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In a supporting affidavit, the DSS highlighted Utomi’s recent statements, including remarks made during the fourth edition of the Topaz Lecture Series on 26 May, hosted by the University of Lagos Mass Communication Class of 1988 Alumni Association. At the event, themed “Shadow Government: A Distraction or Necessity,” Utomi reportedly defended the concept and suggested that, should the court rule against him, his group would adopt a different name to pursue their objectives.
The DSS, tasked with safeguarding Nigeria’s internal security, insists that Utomi’s plans could undermine the rule of law and the authority of the federal government. However, the agency clarified, through its counsel, that it has no intention of arresting Utomi or his associates. “The application is purely to maintain the status quo while the court determines whether the creation of a shadow government aligns with Nigeria’s constitution,” Kehinde told journalists after filing the motion.
Justice James Omotosho has scheduled 25 June 2025 for the hearing of the substantive suit, with Utomi listed as the sole defendant. The professor, a renowned political economist, has already entered an appearance through his counsel, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on 20 May 2025.
The case has sparked debate, with some viewing Utomi’s shadow government proposal as a bold attempt to offer alternative policy solutions, while others echo the DSS’s concerns about its potential to destabilise national unity. As the court date approaches, all eyes will be on the judiciary to determine the balance between free expression and national security.
