DSS is worried that the government of Utomi’s shadow will trigger other #Endsars protests, heading to the court

The State Service Department (DSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to arrest the former presidential candidate, Professor Patrick Utomi, from making a public statement or demonstrating in connection with his plan to build a “shadow government” in Nigeria.

The request, which was submitted on Wednesday, through a legal team led by Nigerian senior advocate, Akinlolu Keminde, came in the middle of a claim by DSS that Utomi, who is currently abroad, intends to return on June 6 to carry out media involvement, public meetings, and roadshows aimed at the agency as “executive robbery” and destination.

Utomi, who fought for the 2007 presidential election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in recent weeks fighting for the creation of a shadow cabinet, a step that was seen as not constitutional and potentially dangerous.

According to the agency, intelligence reports show that the activities proposed by Utomi tend to “are a serious threat to public order, safety, and national unity.”

In the request, DSS asked the court to issue a court order to hold Utomi, his colleagues, agents, or anyone who acted in the name of “road staging, demonstrations, public lectures or all forms of public meetings … which were intended to promote the claimed government that was claimed or purpose, while waiting for determining substantive.”

DSS argues that Utomi’s initiative, which allegedly included “protest with the guise of freedom of speech and association,” could trigger riots similar to the #endsars demonstration in 2020.

“All planned protests, riots, and agitation that will occur, if the defendant’s actions are recognized are not permanent, can cause chaos with the potential of anarchy, loss of lives and property,” the agent said in a written statement that was sworn in.

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DSS further cited comments made by Utomi during the fourth edition of the Topaz lecture series at the University of Lagos on May 26, where he reportedly defended the idea of ​​a shadow government and signaled readiness to change the image of the initiative if the legal challenges succeeded against it.

Although Utomi has not returned to Nigeria, the court has confirmed that he has been served with a notification of a lawsuit that is delayed through his lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, San.

In a briefing with journalists on Wednesday, DSS Akinlolu Khaninde’s advisor clarified that the agency did not try to capture Utomi but to prevent any actions that could damage the constitutional governance.

“What our client has submitted to the court is to interpret the constitution, whether any form of government with any nomenclature can be formed or permitted outside the constitution,” Keminde explained. “This new application is based on the fact that despite the delayed action, the defendant continues to make a statement of inflammation that is able to trigger chaos.”

Khaninde added that DSS, under his current leadership, had chosen to pursue the legal process by seeking judicial clarification rather than a strong intervention.

“This is a civilized agent who has chosen the path of law,” he said.

This case, with FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025 settings number, has been assigned to Judge Omotosho, who has improved June 25 for hearing.