The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied any intention to arrest Professor Pat Utomi or anyone else following his public support for the formation of a shadow government in Nigeria.
The clarification comes amid growing speculation after Utomi, a former presidential candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), recently advocated for the creation of a parallel structure to hold the current government accountable.
DSS Files Suit, Seeks Court Ruling on Shadow Government Legality
In a fresh legal application filed on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the DSS, through its counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), requested an interim injunction to restrain Utomi and his associates from organizing rallies, media events, or public lectures related to the shadow government concept.
The agency urged the court to determine whether the formation of such an entity violates the Nigerian Constitution.
Kehinde explained that the DSS opted for a legal approach rather than arrests, out of respect for the rule of law and commitment to democratic norms.
“We are not out to arrest anyone. But we must act to prevent a situation that could undermine national peace or democratic stability,” Kehinde told the court.
DSS Alleges Continued Provocation
Despite earlier legal correspondence from Utomi’s legal team, the DSS alleges that he has continued to make public statements that could incite unrest or undermine confidence in the current government.
The agency emphasized that it is not against public discourse or dissent, but is concerned about the potential constitutional breach and threat to national stability that the shadow government idea might pose.
Court to Rule on Constitutionality of Shadow Government
The court is now expected to rule on whether the proposed shadow government is constitutional or not. In the meantime, the DSS is requesting a suspension of all activities related to the proposal until a final judgment is rendered.
The security agency stated that any organization or initiative not backed by the constitution should not be allowed to grow, especially if it is perceived as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic governance.
