The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a lawsuit against former presidential candidate, Professor Patrick Utomi, at the Federal High Court in Abuja over his recent move to establish a “shadow government” in Nigeria.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, the DSS accused Utomi—who ran under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2007 elections—of attempting to illegally assume executive powers and undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The agency claimed his actions could destabilize the country and incite unrest.
According to the DSS, the shadow government initiative is a constitutional violation and poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s democratic structure. It argued that creating any parallel authority outside the constitutional framework is illegal, null, and void under Sections 1 and 14 of the 1999 Constitution.
The security body urged the court to ban Utomi and his associates from operating the shadow cabinet, which includes figures such as Dele Farotimi and a policy team of notable individuals. The DSS warned that such actions could mislead the public, erode trust in the government, and trigger political instability.
The agency also stated that despite government efforts to dissuade Utomi, including public warnings from the Minister of Information, he has remained defiant.
No hearing date has been set yet.
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