A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck down Prof. Pat Utomi’s move to establish a shadow government in Nigeria, declaring the initiative illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Monday while restraining Utomi and his associates from proceeding with their proposed shadow cabinet. The decision came after the Department of State Services (DSS) filed a suit challenging the plan.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho described the concept of a shadow government as alien to Nigeria’s presidential system of government, stressing that it cannot be legitimized under the constitution.
The court held that while citizens have the right to free association and to criticise government actions, such rights cannot be stretched to cover activities deemed unlawful.
Commending the DSS for taking legal action, the judge maintained that the agency acted within its mandate to prevent acts capable of threatening the nation’s internal security.
The ruling effectively halts Utomi’s plan to set up an alternative cabinet, which he had argued would serve as a check on the government’s performance.
