By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday declared the decision of a former presidential candidate, Prof. Patrick Utomi, to form a shadow government in the country as illegal and unconditional.
The court, in the judgment that was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, held that the concept or formation of a shadow government/cabinet is alien to both the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the presidential system of government that the nation is practising.
Consequently, it issued an order, restraining Prof. Utomi and his associates from proceeding with the plan, saying they could not hide under their right to criticise or hold the government accountable, to engage in unlawful activities.
The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, which was brought before the court by the Department of State Services, DSS.
The court held that the agency acted appropriately by approaching it to stop an action capable of posing a threat to national security.
The DSS had in the suit accused Prof. Utomi who was the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2007 presidential election, of attempting to illegally usurp the executive powers of President Bola Tinubu.
Credit: Vanguard
