The Department of State Services (DSS) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain Professor Pat Utomi, former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), from engaging in public activities promoting his proposed “shadow government.”
In a fresh application filed Wednesday, the DSS urged the court to bar Utomi and his associates from staging rallies, media campaigns, or any form of public mobilization pending the determination of a substantive suit already filed against him (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025).
The security agency claims that Utomi—currently abroad and expected back in Nigeria on June 6—plans to hold public events and roadshows that could disrupt national peace and incite unrest, citing the potential for protests similar to the #EndSARS demonstrations of 2020.
According to the DSS, Utomi has continued to make public statements justifying the formation of a “shadow cabinet,” even while being fully aware of the ongoing legal action against him. The agency insists such actions could undermine the authority of Nigeria’s constitutional government and provoke public disorder.
The DSS also referenced Utomi’s recent remarks at the University of Lagos during the Topaz Lecture Series, where he defended the shadow government concept and hinted at a rebranding should the court rule against him.
Speaking to reporters, DSS counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) emphasized the agency’s commitment to due process, stating that the DSS seeks constitutional clarification—not arrests—on whether any parallel form of government can legally exist.
Kehinde said, “The DSS believes in the rule of law and has submitted this issue to the court for determination. Until then, parties must respect judicial process and maintain the status quo.”