The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Utomi

  • Utomi leads maiden discourse on poverty reduction

    Utomi leads maiden discourse on poverty reduction

    A renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, will headline the maiden Discourse Series on Poverty Reduction in Lagos.

    The event, scheduled for Friday, October 17, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, is organised by Conversation Media Limited to mark the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

    Themed “Pathways to Inclusive Development: Rethinking Communication, Policy and Partnership,” the gathering will explore how communication, governance, and partnerships can be leveraged to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequalities in Nigeria.

    Utomi, founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), will focus on rural poverty while drawing from global poverty alleviation strategies.

    A major highlight will be the public presentation of the book Media and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria by Dr. Victor Ikem, CEO of Conversation Media Limited. The programme will also feature panel discussions, audience dialogue, networking sessions, and a book signing.

    Organisers said the initiative goes beyond a book launch, describing it as the beginning of a sustained platform for solutions-driven engagement on poverty in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

    Policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, media executives, and development practitioners are expected to attend what is described as a “strategic and impactful gathering.”

  • Court bars Utomi, associates from establishing ‘Shadow Govt’

    Court bars Utomi, associates from establishing ‘Shadow Govt’

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining Prof. Pat Utomi and his associates from proceeding with their plan to establish a shadow government/cabinet in the country.

    Justice James Omotosho issued the order yesterday in a judgment on a suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) with Utomi as the sole defendant.

    Justice Omotosho declared the idea of a shadow government/cabinet is unconstitutional and a concept alien to the nation’s presidential system of government.

    The judge held that Utomi and his associates cannot hide under the rights to freedom of association and expression to engage in unlawful activities.

    He hailed the plaintiff for filing the suit and held, among others, that it was within the powers of the DSS, being a premier national security agency, to take steps to prevent acts capable of threatening the nation’s internal security.

    Justice Omotosho upheld the argument by the lawyer to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), that the move by Utomi and his associates to form a shadow government/cabinet was intended to create chaos and destabilise the country.

    Read Also: Lagos govt engages Computer Village stakeholders on relocation to Katangowa

    The judge also agreed with the plaintiff that not only was the planned shadow government an aberration but that it also constituted a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government currently in place.

    He held that such a structure, styled as a shadow government/cabinet, if left unchecked, may incite political unrest, cause intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security.

    Justice Omotosho held that although the defendant is entitled to enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and to associate, such rights are not absolute.

    He further held that the two rights being claimed by the defendant can legally be violated in some instances, particularly where there is a need to protect society from anarchy and the breakdown of law and order.

    The judge held that, in the interest of the security of the country, such rights (freedom of expression and association) do not exist for the defendant, warning that the court would not sit idly by and allow the defendant to cause confusion in the country.

    According to him, the planned shadow government/cabinet by Utomi and others portends a danger to the stability and safety of the country.

    He said that although Utmi claimed to be running a civil society organisation, his decision to form a shadow government was a nullity.

    The judge averred that there are existing avenues through which people could criticise the government, which the defendant could explore, but not to take unconstitutional steps, like forming a shadow government/cabinet.

    Justice Omotosho also faulted the forum adopted by Utomi and his associates, noting that Big Tent Limited, a limited liability company under which the defendant claimed to be operating, cannot be used as a vehicle for political purposes, as was done in this case.

    The judge said should Utomi and his associates wish to set up a platform to criticise and monitor the government, they should either form a political party or join an existing one, not use a limited liability company for political purposes.

    He issued an order declaring the purported shadow government/cabinet being planned by Utomi and his associates as unconstitutional and amounting to an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    Justice Omotosho also declared that under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). is unconstitutional, null, and void.

    The judge issued an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a shadow government, shadow cabinet or any similar entity not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

  • UPDATED: DSS wins as Court declares Utomi’s ‘Shadow government’ unconstitutional

    UPDATED: DSS wins as Court declares Utomi’s ‘Shadow government’ unconstitutional

    • *Asks him, associates to float or join political party

    A Federal high court sitting in Abuja on Monday declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional the bid by Prof. Pat Utomi and some of his associates to form a shadow government in the country. 

    The court held that Utomi and his associates cannot hide behind the pillar of the rights of association to criticise the government to engage in unlawful activities.

    Delivering judgement in a suit instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) challenging the bid by Utomi and some associates of his to form a shadiw government, Justice James Omotosho declared the move as null, void and unconstitutional. 

    Instead, said the judge, Utomi and his associates should form or join a political party to run for office or to provide constructive opposition. 

    The judge further held that the association Utomi registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government (BTCSG), for the purpose of sponsoring his shadow government is ultra vires.

    On the question of the suit by the DSS violated the fundamental human rights of the defendants, Justice Omotosho held that the action of the defendant is dangerous and non justifiable. He stressed that fundamental rights are not absolute but have limitations. 

    He commended the DSS for filing the suit and held among others, that it was within the right of the DSS to take steps to prevent acts capable of threatening the nation’s internal security

    Shortly after Utomi, in May, launched what he called the Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government (BTCSG), which he called a “national emergency response,” the DSS approached the Federal High Court to determine the constitutionality of shadow government in a presidential system of government. 

    Read Also: Shadow govt: Pat Utomi knows fate Monday as court delivers judgment in DSS’ suit

    In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, the DSS held that the “shadow government” being championed by Prof. Utomi, not only is alien to the Nigerian Constitution, but capable of causing anarchy and destabilizing Nigeria. 

    The DSS further contended that with a democratically-elected presidential government in place, any “shadow government as being promoted by Utomi or anybody, could incite, “trigger political unrest, cause intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security.”

    The secret police, whose constitutional mandate is to oversee internal security, prayed the curt to declare the purported “shadow government” or”‘shadow cabinet” being planned by Utomi and his associates as unconstitutional, arguing that it “amounts to an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

    The DSS further sought a declaration that “under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). is unconstitutional, null, and void.”

    In addition, the secret police asked the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government,’ ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

  • Utomi’s restless, relentless opposition

    Utomi’s restless, relentless opposition

    Sometime in July 2020, the National Consultative Forum (NCFront) announced its formation and reeled out names of some prominent Nigerians as its founding members, but some of them denounced the organisation and declared they were not consulted. Prominent lawyers Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana insisted they knew nothing about the group, and so too did Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, a retired colonel. A little over five years after that organisational debacle, the same NCFront, speaking through Hamisu San Turaki, who is described as its spokesman, has again announced more than a dozen prominent Nigerians presumably bonding together under the aegis of the group to push, again, for electoral reforms. In both 2020 and now, Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy, has been prominent on the list, and is indeed, the numero uno. He seems to be the main inspiration, together, this time, with former Education minister Obiageli Ezekwesili, former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega, former presidential adviser Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, fiery NNPP ideologue Buba Galadima, and of course Messrs Falana and Agbakoba. The group aims to form another organisation called the Alliance for the Defence of Democracy (ADD) tasked with pursuing electoral reforms.

    It is not known to this writer whether any of the listed names has dissociated himself from the NCFront or ADD. But after the 2020 incident, Prof. Utomi went on in 2022 to join forces with Labour Party’s Peter Obi to fight for the presidency in the 2023 election. In 2020, the NCFront seemed like an association of the rejected embittered by the outcome of the 2019 presidential election won by President Muhammadu Buhari. Today, the group is insidiously Obidient and hopes to swing the 2027 election. As in 2020, the group’s goals are not as altruistic as they seem, that is if its leaders can overcome the suspicion that someone did not presumptuously assemble the prominent names and imbue them with noble and far-reaching goals. As for their battle cry of electoral reforms, they hinge their agitations on what they insist was the miscarriage of the last elections, and hope that civil society, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) can create a collaborative template to drive the reforms or bring the administration to heel.

    They couched their mission elegantly thus: “…The initiators have decided to launch a new electoral reform platform to be known as Alliance for Defence of Democracy on October 1st as a popular alternative movement to drive and structure the campaign and mobilisation process for…critical electoral reform during the major national gathering on electoral reforms to be addressed by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, among other leaders of conscience in Nigeria…(and launch a mass movement) to drive critical reforms in the electoral laws of Nigeria, especially those that dimmed the credibility of the 2023 elections namely; compulsory electronic transmission of election results, effective criminalisation of votes buying, enactment of early and diaspora voting as initiated by the House of Representatives, proportional representation in government, especially special seats for women and other vulnerable groups, among others.” They seem to think that without these elements, like the electronic transmission of results which has been proved by Nigerian examination bodies to be vulnerable, a fair election could not be delivered.

    Read Also: Shadow government: Court orders service of court papers on Utomi in Lagos

    But perhaps the main plank of their agitation for reform rests on their curious and fallacious belief that the 2023 presidential election was rigged or unfair. They had few qualms about the governorship polls; what they find distressful was the presidential poll over which coincidentally the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have not stopped agitating. If the NCFront and ADD are not disconcerted by the coincidence of assigning themselves a mission indistinguishable from that of the Obidients in particular, it may be because they have thrown caution to the wind and become inured to facts and truth that assail their bloated presumptions. More than the PDP, the Obidients who champion the cause of their standard-bearer Mr Obi have continued to insist the elections were rigged despite the LP not having any path to victory, and indeed came third in the 2023 race. The assault on facts has, however, caught on and become a general delusion among many gullible but sometimes even educated Nigerians. There is of course no institution or policy or even paradigm that cannot benefit from one reform or the other, but the agitation for change must be well-grounded. It is dishonest to use the 2023 election outcome as the basis for their agitation. The integrity of that election was not vitiated by the non-transmission of the results electronically, which was their main grouse, or by any other fallacies insinuated into the presidential poll.

    The facts of the 2023 presidential poll are clear. Each of the three leading presidential candidates won in 12 states, with Mr Obi, however, winning in 11 and Federal Capital Territory. Where exactly did the purported rigging take place – in the 12 states out of 36 states won by the eventual winner, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC)? Or in the 23 states plus FCT won by the candidates of the PDP and LP, especially the latter who won his Southeast region through a voter turnout troublingly out of sync with the national turnout? How more credible could an election be where there was neither a landslide nor outright and overwhelming dominance? President Tinubu lost Lagos, his base, Osun in the Southwest, and Katsina where the then sitting president Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling APC came from, and in no state did he win by a huge margin on the scale Mr Obi did in the Southeast. But analysts have distorted the presidential election outcome, raised dishonest posers and comparisons with past elections, and illogically and unconstitutionally concluded that perhaps a runoff would have lent the results credibility.

    Agitating for reforms is a democratic right. That right cannot be abridged. But it is unhelpful and counterproductive to anchor agitation on false premises and dishonest extrapolations designed more to inflame the mob, bait coups d’etat, promote discord and anarchy, and sully and humiliate national and democratic institutions. Nigeria’s democracy is not perfect; it is work in progress. To continually seek to throw out the baby with the bathwater simply because of electoral setback, especially in an increasingly fissiparous and nationalistic world, is to sail near the wind and risk a shipwreck. Nigeria is a delicate and highly vulnerable pastiche of religion and ethnicities; it is a miracle it is still standing despite the extremism and dangerous rhetoric of political leaders who show no grace and nobility in defeat. Mr Utomi’s group is one of the constitutional reform groups being cobbled together by disaffected politicians to either repudiate the progress recorded in the last elections or impugn the integrity of the poll outcome as well as the institutions that undergird democracy. It is tragic that anyone is giving them a hearing.

  • JUST IN: Court urged to restrain Utomi, associates from rallies, others over shadow govt

    JUST IN: Court urged to restrain Utomi, associates from rallies, others over shadow govt

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to restrain the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Patrick Okedinachi Utomi (also known as Prof. Pat Utomi) from further making public comments or engaging in rallies in relation to the subject of a suit pending against him over his announced plan to establish a shadow government in the country.

    The request is contained in a fresh application filed before the court on Wednesday by the State Security Service (SSS) following reports that Utomi, who is said to be abroad, has planned to engage in protests, road shows, media interviews and related activities upon his return to the country on June 6.

    The application seeks mainly, “an order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the defendant/respondent (Utomi), his agents, privies, associates, servants, workers or any person acting through him from staging road shows, rallies, public lectures or any form of public gathering, newspaper publications, television programs, jingles or any other public enlightenment programme (s) aimed at sensitizing, instigating, propagating or in any way promoting the purported “shadow government/shadow cabinet” or its objectives or goals with the view to establishing the said “shadow government” pending the hearing and determination of this substantive suit.”

    The grounds for the application, according to the SSS’ legal team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), includes that, if not restrained, Utomi’s proposed raliies, road shows and actions “constitute a serious threat to the public order, safety and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “

    The SSS added that as the agency statutorily empowered to safeguard the internal security of the country and prevent any threats to lawful authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constituent institutions, it was incumbent on it to forstal any threat to public order, safety and national unity.

    It stated that before it filed the substantive suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025 Utomi had,  through public statements, social media and other platforms engaged in statements and actions aimed at undermining the outcome of the case now pending  before the court, and which he is aware of. 

    The SSS said it gathered through monitoring and intelligence reports that Utomi, who is out of the country and is due to return on June 6 plans “to stage road shows and rallies under the guise of freedom of speech and association in a bid to cause public discontent in furtherance of his establishment of the purported ‘shadow government/shadow cabinet.’ 

    The plaintiff added, in a supporting affidavit, that Utomi’s intention “is to stage road shows and rallies that are capable of drawing a large number of Nigerians with intent that will cause huge disruption of peace, breakdown of public order, enable riots and violent protests just as the recent “End SARS” protests in 2020. 

    “All the planned protests, riots and agitations that will ensue, if the purported actions of the defendant/respondent are not stayed, may lead to mayhem with a potential for anarchy, toss of lives and property. 

    “The proposed allies, road shows and actions of the Defendant/Respondent constitutes a serious threat to the public order, safety and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The SSS stated that on May 26  during the fourth edition of the Topaz Lecture Series, themed “Shadow Government: A Distraction or Necessity”, hosted by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Mass Communication Class of 1988 Alumni Association, Utomi made statements, capable of undermining the pending suit.

    It added that the statements, widely publicized by various national newspapers and on social media platforms, Utomi defended the creation of the purported shadow government and further stated that if the suit succeeds in favour of the SSS, himself and his group shall adopt a different name. 

    The SSS added that Utomi “has been served with the originating process in this suit and has entered appearance vide his Counsel Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) since 20 May, 2025. 

    “The defendant/respondent (Utomi) is aware of the pendency of this action before this Honourable Court as he has been served with the originating process in this suit by courier as ordered by this honourable court. 

    “Unless this honourable court intervenes by granting this application, the defendant/respondent’s acts may foist a fait accompli on the court. 

    “It is in the interest of justice, national security, and the rule of law for this honourable court to grant this application,” the SSS said. 

    Speaking shortly after filing the fresh application, SSS’ lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) explained the rationale behind his client’s decision to approach the court.

    Kehinde said: “We, as counsel to the SSS have just filed an application seeking interlocutory injunction against the defendant and his group pending the determination of the substantive suit. The application, being a public document can be obtained from the registry of the honourable court.

    “It is good that as members of the 4th estate of the realm you are keeping watch over the case filed against the formation of “Shadow Government” by Prof. Pat Utomi and his group. 

    “The civil suit, as you are aware, was filed by the State Security Service (SSS) in consonance with its statutory mandate of ensuring internal peace and avoidance of any form of insurrection and treasonable felony against the democratically elected government in the country.

    “This fresh application is premised on the fact that despite the pendency of the substantive action, the service of same on the defendant and the entry of appearance to same by his Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the defendant has continued to make inflammatory statements capable of igniting chaos in the country instead of abiding by the hallowed principle that civilized parties before the court are expected to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive matter.

    Read Also: Utomi defends Shadow Cabinet, calls for democratic renewal

    “What our client has submitted to the court is for the interpretation of the Constitution whether any form of government by whatever nomenclature can be formed or allowed outside the Constitution.

    “Furthermore, our client is not interested at arresting anybody in respect of this matter having on its own accord submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the honourable court to interpret the Constitution and determine the legality or otherwise of the ‘Shadow government’ or any other nomenclature that it may be so named.

    “It must be pointed out that our client under its current leadership is a very civilized organization with absolute confidence in the rule of law and that is why, it or any of its personnel will always approach the court of law whenever it feels that there is any infraction on its statutory duties by anyone or the rights of its personnel. Let the court have the final say.

    “Gentlemen, we must all ensure that constitutional democracy and the rule of law have its way in Nigeria,” Kehinde said.

  • Elasticity of a shadow

    Elasticity of a shadow

    The proposed Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government by erudite Professor of Political Economics, Pat Utomi, has elicited a lot of interest, such that the State Security Service (SSS) has threatened to bring an action in court against him, to stop what they consider a subversive endeavour. Prof. Utomi, a well-sought public intellectual, must have rankled some nerves to warrant such attention. Many public commentators have critiqued the proposal, some arguing in favour and others against what they regard as a shadowy enterprise.

    No doubt, a shadow government or cabinet is clearly strange in a presidential system. In the parliamentary system where Prof Utomi may have borrowed the concept, what they have in Britain is a shadow cabinet; and in some other jurisdictions like Canada or New Zealand what they call Opposition Critic or Spokesman. Usually, it is the elected members of the opposition parties in parliament that constitute their representatives into a shadow cabinet, and as Sam Omatseye pointed out in his piece on the subject matter, they are referred to as the loyal opposition in Britain.

    Considering that in a presidential system of government, the winner alone forms the government, it is strange to constitute a shadow cabinet. If as Prof. Utomi proposes, unelected members of opposition parties can form a shadow cabinet, it may create chaos. One imagines what would be the outcome if as many political parties as we have decided to create a shadow government. Again, for a presidential system, where the opposition do not sit in parliament with the elected government, there will be no opportunity for a robust debate between the real thing and its shadow.

    It must be noted that a critical benefit of the Westminster shadow cabinet is the opportunity for a robust debate of proposed programmes in the parliament. When the substantive minister proposes a programme, the shadow minister knowledgeable in that area of state affairs would counteract him or her with facts and figures, or even propose an alternative policy. With such robust interactions, the policies of the state are chiselled through an anvil. The robust debate also presents the public with alternative views from the opposition party.

    Again, the robust interaction helps members of the parliament, even of the ruling party, to know when the government is veering off course; and when a major policy is defeated in parliament, a snap election is usually called. So, both the ruling cabinet and the shadow cabinet made up of elected members have interest in the survival of the system, and having sworn their oaths as parliamentarians, they owe allegiance and loyalty to the institution which they belong to as well as the larger interest of the country.

    The challenge with Prof. Utomi’s proposal is that members of the shadow cabinet would not be elected, would not take any oath and so would owe no allegiance to any institution or the country. Without such institutional checks and balances, not even the Big Tent Coalition proponents can vouch for the integrity of the purpose of the shadow cabinet, or have the ability to bring them to account, if they chose to fly off the wheel. If they even chose to engage in subversive actions, the coalition would have no way to bring the shadow cabinet member to account.

    Again, without the opportunity for the Westminster type of head-to-head heated debates, what benefit would the shadow cabinet serve? The best we would have is a cacophony of voices in the media, of persons who claim to hold alternative views to that of the government in power, without the interrogation the parliamentary system provides. Again, with the indiscipline that politicians across political parties have been exhibiting, is the Prof. not worried that his shadow cabinet members would disagree in the public glare and ridicule the coalition for private political gains?

    Read Also: Govt gives panel four weeks to design disposal plan for 753-unit Abuja estate

    The presidential system is structured for periodic elections as the only legitimate way to sack a government in power. The periods between the elections give opposition parties the time to organise, criticise and prepare for the next election. Commendably, Nigerian democracy has matured enough, and the government in power does not openly muzzle opposition as we see in some countries. As I write, there is no opposition figure in jail or undergoing trial for one trumped-up charge or the other. And that is the way to grow democratically.

    The opposition figures are freely meeting and canvassing one form of coalition or another, geared to unseat the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election. However, the challenge facing them is the capacity to agree amongst themselves, as it seems every one of the leaders wants to be the presidential candidate in 2027. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who is in the twilight of his political career, as I wrote weeks ago, is desperate, and will do anything to run in the 2027 presidential election.

    The candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, obviously understands that he cannot work with an Atiku who sees 2027 as his last chance to contest the presidency, when his own last chance may be the same 2027. It is such a clash that leaves the coalition talks that Atiku claims to be championing in tatters. Without the two working together, the rest of the interests masquerading as coalition are mere jokes.

    Without the Atiku and Obi factors, the much-touted Big Tent coalition will amount to mere political shadows of no import. So, Prof. Utomi, instead of dispensing energy over forming a shadowy shadow cabinet, should use his intellectual and organisational ability to form a coalition capable of giving the ruling party a run for their money at the polls. No matter how fanciful the name may sound, or even the idea may seem, building a political coalition with the momentum to oust a sitting government is a big task.

    Even the coalition that Atiku and his unhappy brethren from ADC, SDP, PDP and Labour parties are talking about has a lot of shadows masquerading as interested parties in it. All the four parties have splinters and who knows which splinter will enter into the coalition. From what is going on, there is the likelihood that such disagreement may be carried into the new coalition. Without trust amongst the founding parties, the coalition would be filled with shadows.

    Like a little child running away from his shadow, the shadow follows him as he runs. Even more worrisome is that the shadow turns to a scarecrow. The members in the various opposition parties need to examine the challenges facing their various parties, and unselfishly find solutions to them. If they keep running from one party to another like a little child, from his shadow, fear and trepidation will be their lot.

  • Court to hear DSS suit on shadow govt against Utomi June 25

    Court to hear DSS suit on shadow govt against Utomi June 25

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered service of court documents on popular development economist, Patrick Okedinachi Utomi (also called Prof. Pat Utomi) in relation to a suit pending against him over his announced plan to establish a shadow government in the country.

    In the suit filed by a team of lawyers, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), the DSS argued that not only is the planned shadow government an aberration but it constitutes a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government that is currently in place.

    READ ALSO: Oloyede: Beyond the glitch

    Justice James Omotosho yesterday granted an ex parte motion argued by Kehinde for an order allowing service of court documents on Utomi, who is listed as the sole defendant, in his Lagos address by means of courier service.

    The plaintiff gave Utomi’s Lagos address as Number 6 Balarabe Musa Crescent, off Samuel Manuwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

    Justice Omotosho adjourned till June 25 for hearing, before which Utomi is expected to have filed his defence.

  • Shadow government: Court orders service of court papers on Utomi in Lagos

    Shadow government: Court orders service of court papers on Utomi in Lagos

    …fixes hearing for June 25

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered service of court documents on the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Patrick Okedinachi Utomi (also known as Prof. Pat Utomi), in relation to a suit pending against him over his announced plan to establish a shadow government in the country.

    The DSS, in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025 filed by a team of lawyers, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued that, not only is the planned shadow government an aberration, it constitutes a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government that is currently in place.

    On Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho granted an ex-parte motion argued by Kehinde for an order allowing service of court documents on Utomi, listed as the sole defendant, at his Lagos address by means of courier service.

    The plaintiff gave Utomi’s Lagos address as:  No. 6 Balarabe Musa Crescent, off Samuel Manuwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

    Justice Omotosho adjourned till June 25 for hearing, before which Utomi is expected to have filed his defence.

    In the suit instituted on May 13, the DSS expressed concern that such a structure, styled as a ‘shadow government,’ if left unchecked, may incite political unrest, cause intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security.”

    The plaintiff wants the court to declare the purported “shadow government” or” shadow cabinet” being planned by Utomi and his associates as “unconstitutional and amounts to an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

    The DSS is also seeking a declaration that “under Sections 1(1), 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). is unconstitutional, null, and void.”

    The plaintiff wants the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government,’ ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

    Among the grounds on which the plaintiff is hinging its prayers is that Section 1(1) of the Constitution declares its supremacy and binding force on all persons and authorities in Nigeria.

    It added that Section 1(2) prohibits the governance of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

    According to the DSS, Section 14(2Xa) states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom government through the Constitution derives all its powers and authority.

    It is contending that Utomi’s proposed shadow government lacks constitutional recognition and authority, thereby contravening the aforementioned provisions.

    Read Also: Utomi’s shadow government plan alien to Constitution, says Omokri

    The plaintiff further stated, in a supporting affidavit, that it is the principal domestic intelligence and security agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, statutorily mandated to detect and prevent threats to the internal security of Nigeria, including subversive activities capable of undermining national unity, peace and constitutional order.

    The DSS added that it is statutorily empowered to safeguard the internal security of Nigeria and prevent any threats to the lawful authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constituent institutions.

    It states that it has monitored, “through intelligence reports and open source material, public statements and interviews granted by the defendant, Professor Patrick Utomi, in which he announced the purported establishment of what he temed a ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet,’ comprising of several persons that make up its ‘Minister.’

    “The ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet’ is an unregistered and unrecognised body claiming to operate as an alternative government. Contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    “The defendant (Utomi), through public statements, social media, and other platforms, has announced the formation of this body with the intent to challenge the legitimacy of the democratically elected government of Nigeria.

    “While inaugurating the ‘shadow cabinet’, the defendant stated that it is made up of the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio to be manned by Dele Farotimi; the policy Delivery Unit team consisting of Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo and Obi Ajuga; and the council of economic advisers.

    “Based on the intelligence gathered by the plaintiff, the activities and statements made by the defendant and his associates are capable of misleading segments of the Nigerian public, weakening confidence in the legitimacy of the elected government, and fuelling public disaffection,” it said.

    The DSS further states that it is particularly, concerned that such a structure, styled as a ‘shadow government,’ if left unchecked, may incite political unrest, cause intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which pose a grave threat to national security.

    “The plaintiff, in the discharge of its statutory duties, has gathered intelligence confirming that the defendant’s actions pose a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

    “The defendant’s actions amount to an attempt to usurp or mimic executive authority, contrary to sections 1(1), 1{2), and 14(2Xa) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), which exclusively vests governance in institutions duly created under the Constitution and through democratic elections.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria has made several efforts to engage the defendant to dissuade him from this unconstitutional path, including statements made by the Minister of Information, but the defendant has remained defiant.

    “It is in the interest of justice, national security, and the rule of law for this honourable court to declare the existence and operations of the defendant unconstitutional and illegal,” it said.

  • Utomi’s search for vision of good society

    Utomi’s search for vision of good society

    Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, born in Kaduna but of Delta state extraction, is passionate about Nigeria. Perhaps the only other Nigerian whose passion for Nigeria rivals that of Utomi was another Kaduna-born Delta Nigerian nationalist, Chukwuma Nzeogwu, whose effort to rid Nigeria of “ten percenters and others that make us ashamed of being called Nigerians” was betrayed by some of his military colleagues including Ifeajuna, Ironsi and Ojukwu who sabotaged Nzeogwu’s revolution in Lagos, Enugu and Kano.

    Prof. Pat Utomi, like Nzeogwu, has a vision of good society which became more elusive the closer they came towards it despite deploying all his talents and energy towards securing a better Nigeria for Nigerians since he started his crusade in the early eighties.

    He first bewitched the Shehu Shagari administration with his in-depth newspaper analysis of the state of the economy, an endeavour that earned him a place in Shagari’s cabinet. Even after the collapse of the administration, he was given a chance to put into practice all his theoretical postulations at V/ Wagon Nigeria Limited which, under his control, suffered the same fate as other assembly plants of the period.

    Utomi, a resourceful professor of political economy, is perhaps the face of Nigeria’s public intellectual home and abroad. He belongs to many professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR), Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigeria Economic Summit Group and Nigeria Economic Society. He has served in various private-sector associations, including the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).

    He has carried the crusade for a better Nigeria through intellectual debate beyond the shores of Nigeria, especially at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, and Chatham House in the UK.

    He has to his credit several books and journal articles on economic underdevelopment, including, ‘Nigeria as an Economic Power House,’ ‘Crafting the New Nigeria – Confronting the Challenges,’ Nigeria ‘Changes as Prospects,’ ‘Values and Economic Stagnation in Africa: A Paradox of Poverty in Nigeria,’ ‘Managing Uncertainty: Competition and Strategy in Emerging Economies,’ ‘Critical Perspectives in Political Economy and Management’ etc.

    The labour of Utomi has not gone unacknowledged.  For his pains, it has been honours without end.  Numerous awards. He has been nominated and voted for by the public as one of Nigeria’s top ten Living Legends in the Vanguard/Silverbird Television Awards, Great Nigeria Lives of the 20th Century and Who is who in Africa.

    Read Also: Iwuanyanwu, remarkable bridge builder – Utomi

    Unfortunately, Utomi’s theories have not reflected positively on the state of our economy.

    The record of his intervention in politics has, however, not been any less dismal. But this has not diminished his enthusiasm for a vision of a better society. Thus, he last week once again came up with his “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” over which he declared himself ‘Leader of Opposition.’ The initiative, which is to serve as critique of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was, according to him, dictated by his desire to save Nigeria’s democracy following his inability to stop the gale of defections from Labour and PDP, where membership of his new coalition was selected.

    The task before the group would be to regularly scrutinise government actions, identify policy failures, and propose alternative solutions in key areas- economy, education, healthcare, infrastructure, law and order, and constitutional reforms of the present government.

    These are no doubt noble objectives except that the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, has said, the idea of a so-called ‘shadow government’ is an aberration as “Nigeria is not a parliamentary system where such a system is practiced.” Many seem to agree with the minister that “Our bicameral legislature amply features members of the opposition, and it should be the right place to contest meaningful ideas for nation-building.”

    Besides government opposition, Utomi’s current search for a vision of good society seems threatened by the choice of his crusading team drawn from opposition PDP democrats without democratic ethos and the ‘obidients,’ an unthinking mob Obi, as the falconer, cannot control.

    For instance, Dele Farotimi, who will lead the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio, is a man many of his critics believe talks more than he thinks in order to prove his valour. Not too long ago, he was ready to publicly disrobe Chief Afe Babalola, an elder statesman, over unproven allegations, just as he, on account of some bad eggs, didn’t mind pulling down his own noble profession without which we all return to a state of nature where life is ’nasty, brutish, and short.’ And this was a self-confessed ‘obidient’ who, in search of ‘Obi’s imaginary ‘stolen mandate,’ recklessly declared without proof before his American audience, “in a few days’ time a convicted drug baron will be sworn in as the president of my country.”

    Before Prof. Utomi’s latest gamble, most of his past efforts at building a coalition in pursuit of a new vision of good society failed. He contested the 2007 presidential election on the platform of the obscure African Democratic Party and failed. Following his initial setback, he formed another party, the Social Democratic Mega Party, on which platform he tried to contest the 2011 presidential elections before withdrawing at the last minute.

    But in 2012, he joined the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) “because the progressive opposition in Nigeria has been unable to bring itself under one umbrella while the enemies of the progressive struggle are disciplined enough to coalesce under the conservative/retrogressive Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    Utomi is a rolling stone. His attempt at contesting a senatorial seat in Delta under PDP failed. I have heard him declare publicly that the APC manifesto was drafted on the dining table in his house. Indeed, Utomi was declared as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2019 general election in Delta State by a faction of the party until it was overturned by the national working committee of the party.

    In January 2018, Utomi floated the Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), with former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, Tafawa Balewa, former Education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, former Information minister, Frank Nweke Jnr, Col. Abubakar Umar (retd), Ayo Obe, Rabiu Ishyaku Rabiu, former presidential adviser, Akin Osuntokun as members.

    The group described itself as a pro-democracy movement and pressure group of like-minded Nigerians, “Concerned that left to their schemes and antics, a class of entrenched leaders will lead Nigeria into a state of indescribable human misery, characterised by death, hunger, disease, illiteracy and manipulation.” They decided to create a third political force, a platform to mobilise all citizens of goodwill and conscience towards engendering a new political system and culture in Nigeria. The intervention movement brought no relief to Nigerians.

    Restless Utomi in 2020 and Naaba formed a group to lead mass action against corruption and insecurity in Nigeria. They wanted Nigerians to rise up and put an end to the situation where the president was being caged and his office being run by some unelected proxies and power

    traders operating without any form of mandate from the Nigerian people. Chasing out that clique of ruinous political cartels ravaging our commonwealth enabled by their self- serving capture of our Government and State. The result was not different.

    Then ahead of the 2023 general elections, Utomi was among prominent Nigerians that established a third force, Rescue Nigeria Project (RNP), ostensibly to give Nigerians an alternative platform, other than the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic

    Party (PDP). Other founding members of RNP included former governor of Kwara State, Ahmed Abdulfatai, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, Senator Lee Maeba, Usman Bugaje, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, Yomi Awoniyi, Dr. Rose Idi Danladi, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, among others. They set out to fight “the high level of nepotism and lack of inclusiveness” which had given rise to agitations by different ethnic groups.

    “We want to salvage this country and see how we can fix the mess. We want to set a template and key criteria leaders must have before they can attain any political position.” Abdulfatai had hardly finished delivering this keynote address when Utomi was discovered to be gunning for the presidential ticket of the Labour Party, which he later ceded to Peter Obi.

    While the closer we came towards Utomi’s vision of a good society, the more elusive it became, it has not been all doom for Nigeria’s foremost professor of political economy and management at a personal level. He is the chairman of close to two dozen Nigerian companies and a shareholder in many others.

  • Merger talks: 2024 is not 2015, Okechukwu tells Atiku, Utomi, others

    Merger talks: 2024 is not 2015, Okechukwu tells Atiku, Utomi, others

    A foundation member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has faulted the recent calls for the merger of political parties to oust the governing party.

    Okechukwu picked holes in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s reference to the victory of the opposition in the just concluded presidential election in Senegal as justification for his call, insisting that his demand was lacking in proper contextual foundation.

    Recall that Atiku while congratulating the Senegalese President-elect, Bassirou Faye noted: “Last Saturday’s election in Senegal follows the trend of that in Nigeria in 2015 that the opposition can indeed be victorious in an election conducted by the ruling party.

    “And for the opposition parties, the lessons are in agreement with my persistent call for our opposition parties to forge a coalition that is formidable enough to oust the ruling party if the salvaging of Nigeria is to stand any chance.”

    Read Also; Okuama-17 and improbable honours

    Reacting in Abuja on Sunday, Okechukwu, who was a member of the merger committee that midwifed APC into a formidable opposition, said there are many reasons to outrightly dismiss these calls and the erroneous premises on which they were anchored.

    “First of all, on the possibility that the persistent call for opposition political parties to forge a formidable coalition to oust the APC like the PDP was defeated in 2015, Okechukwu said circumstances on the ground differ remarkably.

    “Secondly, dethroning an incumbent president should not be a political pastime, but as a practical political consciousness to remove an underperforming administration,” Okechukwu stated.

    The former director general of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), noted that the difference in the socio-economic situation of Nigeria between 2015 and 2024 is clear, stressing that while in 2015, Nigeria lost focus, today, despite the socio-economic hardship, both the international and local communities agree that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has courage, vision and focus.

     “Yes, my understanding is that Atiku was referring to the current socio-economic hardship, but the truth is that whether you like it or not President Tinubu has focus. In 2015, under President Goodluck Jonathan, there was little or no hope.

     “Luckily, Mr President has with his economic reforms, won the confidence of the international community. All he needs is to domesticate his economic programme to benefit the greatest number of Nigerians.”

    On the possibility that the persistent calls for merger hyped by Atiku for opposition political parties to forge a formidable coalition to oust the APC like the PDP was defeated in 2015, Okechukwu said circumstances on the ground make that a hectic tall order.

    “As a political scientist, he believes that a formidable opposition coalition is a healthy tonic for Nigeria’s democracy, however, it is incumbent on Atiku, Utomi and co-travellers to convince Nigerians on which economic philosophy the coalition would be anchored upon.  

    “Nigerians know that all the leading presidential candidates in 2023 were all neo-liberals. For instance, like Tinubu, Atiku and Obi agreed to remove fuel subsidies and to harmonise the foreign exchange rate.   “Since they all belong to the neo-liberal school of thought and are capitalists, they better support Mr President, because the success of Tinubu’s economic reforms is better for such students more than those of us who subscribe to the belief that government has business in our welfare.”  

    Okechukwu however contended that in the face of the current excruciating economic hardship driving the majority of Nigerians into abject poverty, even Mr President appreciates the suffering but assures that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

    He remarked: “Two things are going positively for President Tinubu. One is that the buy-in of the international community is high, which means that foreign direct investment which propels prosperity is guaranteed over time.

    “Secondly, unlike President Muhammadu Buhari, whose rising tide of expectations was high at inception on issues like anti-graft war and economic empowerment, that of Tinubu is starkly low. This is to say that not much was expected from President Tinubu from the onset. The bottom line is that he will garner local buy-in with time instead of declining expectations.”

    The APC Chieftain reminded merger canvassers to study the large-hearted political engineering that enabled opposition to take over in Senegal, recalling how in 2014, Ousmane Sonko invited his friend and fellow tax collector, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and other emergent political actors to form a political party – African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF).

    Okechukwu noted that PASTEF or Patriots of Senegal, which was led by Sonko was dominated by young Senegalese with Faye serving as the Secretary-General while Sonko was the leader.

    He stated: “I want to inform the former Vice President that in 2017, although PASTEF only secured one seat out of 165 in the Legislative election, in 2019, Sonko contested as the Presidential candidate, while Faye was his campaign manager.

    “Then, three years later, PASTEF garnered 56 out of the 165 seats contested at the National Assembly election. The 2022 election showed that Sonko has emerged as a strong contender for the 2024 Presidential poll.

    “Sonko and Faye were jailed and released by President Macky Sall less than 12 days to the election, Sanko endorsed Faye as his presidential candidate and Senegalese people joined to elect him as President.”

    Okechukwu said he decided to tell the long story to convince Atiku, Utomi and Co, who were with us during the APC’s merger in 2013 that the formation of a broad-based political coalition is not a hundred metres dash neither can be pulled off by leaders that insist on being on the ballot.

    “Finally, unlike Sonko, who yielded space for Faye to take the Presidential ticket, Atiku’s breach of the rotation convention and blatant refusal to back either younger Peter Obi or Nyesom Wike; hence contested against the Southern Presidential aspirants in the 2023 poll showed that he cannot walk the talk of building strong coalition.”