Breaking: Federal High Court Rules On DSS Vs. Pat Utomi’s Shadow Government Saga

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that Professor Pat Utomi’s proposal to form what he described as a “shadow government” in Nigeria is unconstitutional. According to Ireporter Online, Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Monday morning, putting an end to the controversy that has stirred intense political debate.

The Department of State Services (DSS), in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, had argued that Utomi’s plan was not only unlawful but also a deliberate attempt to sow chaos and destabilize the country. The agency insisted that the idea of a shadow government was a direct affront to the Nigerian Constitution and a dangerous threat to the democratically elected leadership currently in place.

In its submissions, the DSS maintained that allowing such a parallel authority could trigger political unrest, deepen intergroup divisions, and inspire separatist or unlawful actors to create similar structures, thereby endangering national security. The security service further asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, stressing that under Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), no authority or structure outside the Constitution can assume governmental functions.

The ruling has sparked mixed reactions, with many observers describing it as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy and the limits of political activism in the country.