A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled against Professor Pat Utomi and his associates, ordering them to cease plans to establish a shadow government in Nigeria.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice James Omotosho declared the concept of a shadow cabinet, often modeled after parliamentary systems, as unconstitutional and inconsistent with Nigeria’s presidential system of governance.
The case was filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), which raised concerns over the legality and implications of forming an alternative government structure outside the one recognized by the constitution.
“Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution makes no allowance for a shadow government,” the judge stated.
“The defendant cannot use foreign constitutional models to mislead the Nigerian public. Such a concept is alien to our system and is hereby declared void.”
The court emphasized that Nigeria’s constitutional framework does not provide room for any form of parallel governance, regardless of its intended symbolic or advisory nature.
Utomi, a professor of political economy and former presidential hopeful, has recently stirred public debate by proposing a shadow cabinet, a group of policy experts intended to mirror and critique the official federal administration.
He argued the initiative would promote accountability and policy alternatives, similar to systems practiced in countries like the United Kingdom.
In response to the ruling, Utomi has claimed that Nigerians are mobilizing 500 lawyers in his defense, asserting that the court’s decision infringes on freedom of association and political expression.
The court’s verdict comes amid heightened political discourse around governance reforms, with critics warning that parallel political structures could confuse citizens or undermine national institutions.
