JUST IN: Court Bars Pat Utomi, Associates From Forming Shadow Govt

A Federal High Court has stopped Professor Pat Utomi, a political economist, and his allies from advancing their plan to set up a shadow government, ruling that such a structure has no basis in Nigeria’s constitutional framework.

Delivering judgment in a suit initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS), Justice James Omotosho described the idea of a shadow government or cabinet as “unconstitutional and alien” to the country’s presidential system.

The court’s decision effectively restrains Utomi and his associates from pursuing the controversial political experiment, which had sparked debate over its legality and implications for governance.

Justice Omotosho maintained that Nigeria’s constitution provides clear guidance on the structure of government, leaving no room for parallel systems outside the established framework.

The matter arose after the DSS approached the court, seeking to block Utomi’s initiative, arguing that it posed risks to national stability and undermined the authority of elected institutions.

Further details to follow...