 has made it clear that it has no intention of arresting anyone involved in the movement for a shadow){kind=link}
The Department of State Services (DSS) has made it clear that it has no intention of arresting anyone involved in the movement for a shadow government, including political economist Prof. Pat Utomi.
This clarification came from the agency’s lead counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who spoke after submitting a new court motion on Wednesday in Abuja.
Utomi, who was the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential flagbearer in 2007, recently spearheaded a campaign advocating for the creation of an alternative government structure.
Kehinde informed journalists outside the Federal High Court that the DSS has instead turned to legal channels by filing for an interlocutory injunction.
This legal request aims to prevent Utomi from making further public statements or organizing events related to the shadow government idea while a substantive suit is pending in court.
“Our client is not interested in 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,” Kehinde stated.
He further emphasized that under its current leadership, the DSS is committed to the rule of law.
“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.
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, like the case instituted against SERAP by some of its personnel, is being compromised. Let the court have the final say,” he added.
The DSS counsel called on the media to keep a close watch on the court process, saying, “Gentlemen, we must all ensure that constitutional democracy and the rule of law have their way in Nigeria.
It is good that as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, you are keeping watch over the case filed against the formation of a ‘Shadow Government’ by Prof. Pat Utomi and his group.”
He explained that the civil case was brought in line with the DSS’s constitutional mandate to preserve internal stability and prevent acts that could be considered treasonous.
Kehinde added that despite being served with court papers, Utomi has continued to make provocative comments.
“We, as counsel to the DSS, have just filed an application seeking an interlocutory injunction against the defendant and his group pending the determination of the substantive suit,” he said.
“The 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,” he added.
He concluded that the issue before the court is to determine whether any form of alternative government can exist within Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
The new filing specifically seeks to bar Utomi and his affiliates from conducting public events, media appearances, or campaigns promoting the shadow government until the court resolves the main lawsuit.