The Department of State Services (DSS) has dragged a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Pat Utomi to court.
DSS asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain him from making further public comments or staging rallies in connection with his plan to establish a shadow government in Nigeria.
The security agency raised the alarm in a fresh application filed on Wednesday, citing security concerns and a looming threat to public order and national unity if Utomi proceeds with his planned activities upon returning to the country on June 6.
In the application, the DSS is seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop Utomi, his agents, and associates from conducting any form of public mobilisation including road shows, rallies, media appearances, and publications—pending the hearing of the substantive suit already before the court.
“Unless this Honourable Court intervenes by granting this application, the defendant/respondent’s acts may foist a fait accompli on the court,” the DSS said in its affidavit.
According to the DSS legal team led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), intelligence reports revealed that Utomi, who is currently abroad, has concluded plans to return on June 6 and launch a series of public engagements in support of the controversial shadow government agenda.
“If not restrained, Utomi’s planned activities constitute a serious threat to the public order, safety, and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the DSS warned.
The agency maintained that as the statutory body responsible for protecting Nigeria’s internal security, it must act to prevent any attempt to undermine lawful authority.
The DSS noted that the former minister and political economist had already been served with court processes and had entered appearance through his counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on May 20, 2025.
The substantive suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, seeks to restrain Utomi from actions deemed capable of causing unrest or undermining national stability.
The agency accused Utomi of planning to disguise the mobilisation under the banner of free speech and civic engagement, with the ultimate aim of inciting public discontent similar to the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
“The planned protests, riots and agitations… may lead to mayhem with a potential for anarchy, loss of lives and property,” the DSS warned.
The DSS further cited Utomi’s remarks at the University of Lagos on May 26 during the Topaz Lecture Series, where he defended the concept of a shadow government and reportedly stated that if the court ruled against him, he would simply adopt a different name for the movement.
