By Erewunmi Peace

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared unlawful the move by political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, to form a “shadow government” in Nigeria.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the concept of a shadow government is alien to the 1999 Constitution and has no place in Nigeria’s presidential system of government.

The case was instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), which approached the court seeking an injunction to restrain Utomi and his associates from inaugurating the alternative structure.

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated that while freedom of association and expression are guaranteed under the constitution, these rights do not extend to setting up parallel government structures, which could undermine the authority of the elected government.

Accordingly, the court issued an order barring Utomi and his group from going ahead with the plan.

The judgment has sparked debates across political and civic circles, with some Nigerians questioning the implications for democratic participation, while others argue that such initiatives could destabilize governance if left unchecked.

Prof. Utomi, a former presidential candidate and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, had earlier defended the shadow government idea as a mechanism to promote accountability and policy alternatives.