Though a date is yet to be fixed by the court, renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has disclosed that Nigerians are rallying a legal team of 500 lawyers in his defence in reaction to a lawsuit instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his proposed shadow government.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Utomi expressed appreciation for the outpouring of support, saying he was moved by the wave of solidarity from citizens nationwide.
“It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS,” he wrote. “I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets.
“They remind me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all”, Utomi wrote.
The DSS had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing the former presidential candidate of attempting to put together a “shadow government.” It prayed the court to deem the initiative a constitutional violation and a potential destabilising force.
But Utomi insisted that the shadow government was not a rebellion, but a movement birthed by national consciousness without intent to grab power.
Filed on May 13, 2025 by Akinlolu Kehinde, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the suit listed Utomi as the sole defendant. The agency’s contention was that his proposed alternative cabinet poses a serious risk to national stability and undermines the legitimacy of the sitting administration.