A professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, has revealed that some Nigerians are mobilizing 500 lawyers to defend him against the Department of State Services (DSS).
Utomi shared the news in a post on X, stating, “It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS.”
The DSS had sued Utomi over his alleged plan to establish what he calls “a shadow government” in the country.
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the DSS urged the court to classify the initiative as a violation of the Constitution.
The professor of Political Economy and 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was named as the sole defendant in the case.
The suit, submitted on May 13 by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Akinlolu Kehinde, alleged that Utomi’s proposed shadow government was designed to incite chaos and destabilize the nation.
The DSS argued that the shadow government plan was both an aberration and a severe infringement on the Constitution, posing a significant threat to the democratically elected government in place.
In response, Utomi expressed gratitude for the nationwide solidarity shown to him, saying he was heartened by the support.
“I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets. Reminds me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all.”
The planned shadow cabinet was greeted by reactions from several Nigerians, including a former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, who said it was an ineffective symbolic gesture that lacked real-world impact on Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
Speaking during an interview on Inside Sources on Channels TV on Sunday, Sowore argued that the idea of a shadow cabinet was futile in a country where the existing government is itself opaque and largely unaccountable.
He said, “Well, how do you replace a shadow government with another set of shadowy governments? I would not begrudge anybody who thinks of solutions that can bring awareness to the people.
“But I do not think that setting up a government with names of people who call themselves a shadow government makes any difference.”