The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained Professor Pat Utomi and his associates from going ahead with their plan to establish a shadow government or cabinet in Nigeria.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), Justice James Omotosho declared the shadow government concept unconstitutional and incompatible with the country’s presidential system.
He held that Utomi and his associates could not rely on the rights to association and criticism of government to engage in activities deemed unlawful.
Justice Omotosho commended the DSS for bringing the action and ruled that the agency is within its powers to take steps to prevent acts capable of threatening national security.
