Professor of Political Economy Pat Utomi on Friday revealed that some Nigerians are rallying to support him with a legal team of 500 lawyers in response to a lawsuit filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Utomi disclosed the development via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, writing:
“It’s energising that some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS.”
The DSS had filed a suit against the former presidential candidate over his alleged plan to set up what he described as a “shadow government” in Nigeria. The security agency is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the initiative a threat to the Constitution and national stability.
Filed on May 13, 2024, by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Akinlolu Kehinde, the suit names Utomi as the sole defendant. The DSS contends that the proposed shadow government is not only unconstitutional but also poses a serious risk of inciting chaos and destabilising the country.
According to the suit, the agency views Utomi’s move as a direct challenge to the democratically elected government, asserting that:
“The planned shadow government was not only an aberration but also constituted a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government currently in place.”
Reacting to the lawsuit and growing public reaction, Utomi expressed gratitude for the nationwide messages of solidarity he has received.
“I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets,” he said in another post.
“They remind me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all.”
Utomi, who was the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has defended the shadow government idea as a means of engaging national discourse and proposing alternative governance policies.
The initiative has, however, drawn mixed reactions, including criticism from prominent voices such as former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore.
Speaking on Inside Sources with Channels TV on Sunday, Sowore dismissed the idea as symbolic but ineffectual, particularly in the context of Nigeria’s entrenched governance challenges.
“Well, how do you replace a shadow government with another set of shadowy governments?” he asked.
“I would not begrudge anybody who thinks of solutions that can bring awareness to the people.
But I do not think that setting up a government with names of people who call themselves a shadow government makes any difference.”
As legal proceedings loom, Utomi’s comments signal a resolve to press ahead, while the DSS maintains that his actions could undermine national security and the constitutional order.
