Breaking News: Court Outlaws Utomi’s Shadow Government Plan

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declared as illegal and unconstitutional, the move by former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, to float a shadow government in Nigeria.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment delivered on Monday, held that the idea of a shadow government or cabinet is alien to the country’s presidential system of government and runs contrary to the 1999 Constitution.

The court consequently issued an order restraining Utomi and his associates from going ahead with the plan, following a suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Omotosho ruled that while citizens have the rights to free association and to criticise government, such rights cannot be stretched to cover unlawful acts capable of undermining national security.

He commended the DSS for approaching the court to forestall what it considered a threat to internal security, affirming that the agency acted within its statutory mandate.

More updates to follow…