The State Security Service (SSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop Professor Pat Utomi from making further public comments or holding rallies about his plan to form a “shadow government” in Nigeria.
This request, filed on Wednesday, June 4, comes as Utomi is reportedly preparing to return to the country on June 6 to begin a series of protests, media engagements, and roadshows promoting the idea.
The SSS wants the court to issue an interlocutory injunction that would bar Utomi, his associates, and anyone acting on his behalf from holding any events or producing materials that support the proposed shadow government while a pending suit on the issue is being determined.
The agency’s legal team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), said in the application, “If not restrained, Utomi’s proposed rallies, road shows and actions constitute a serious threat to the public order, safety and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The SSS argued that it has the statutory duty to prevent threats to internal security and lawful authority and described Utomi’s campaign as a potential trigger for unrest, similar to the End SARS protests of 2020.
According to the affidavit, the agency claims Utomi’s aim 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.”
They cited a lecture given by Utomi on May 26 at the University of Lagos during the Topaz Lecture Series where he defended the idea of a shadow cabinet.
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The SSS claimed his remarks, which were widely reported in the media, were “capable of undermining the pending suit.”
Utomi has already been served court papers and has entered an appearance through his lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
The SSS maintains that unless the court steps in, Utomi’s actions “may foist a fait accompli on the court.”
Speaking after filing the application, SSS lawyer Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) 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.”
He added, “This fresh application is premised on the fact that despite the pendency of the substantive action, the defendant has continued to make inflammatory statements capable of igniting chaos in the country instead of abiding by the hallowed principle that civilised parties before the court are expected to maintain the status quo.”
Kehinde clarified that the SSS has no plans to arrest Utomi, saying, “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.”
He concluded, “It must be pointed out that our client under its current leadership is a very civilised organisation with absolute confidence in the rule of law… Gentlemen, we must all ensure that constitutional democracy and the rule of law have its way in Nigeria.”