The Department of State Services (DSS) has dragged Professor Pat Utomi to the Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged plan to establish a "shadow government" in Nigeria, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from prominent activist Aisha Yesufu.

According to court documents filed on May 13, 2025, by Akinlolu Kehinde, the DSS accused Utomi of planning to usurp President Bola Tinubu's administration through the establishment of a parallel governance structure.

The security agency argued that Utomi's remarks constituted an attack on the Nigerian constitution and were intended to destabilize the country and cause chaos. The DSS expressed concerns that such a structure, if left unchecked, could incite political unrest, cause inter-group tensions, and potentially encourage separatist entities to establish similar parallel arrangements.

Reacting to the development, frontline Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu criticized the DSS, describing the agency as "sick" in a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account. "DSS is sick and doesn't know who to tell it that it is sick," Yesufu wrote.

Professor Utomi, a respected economist and political figure, has previously expressed criticism of the current administration. In a related development, he was quoted in earlier reports stating that he "would never accept government appointment in Nigeria again."

The legal action against Utomi comes amid growing tensions between government critics and security agencies in Nigeria, raising questions about freedom of expression and the boundaries of political opposition in the country.

The case is expected to draw significant public attention as it progresses through the Federal High Court in Abuja, with potential implications for political discourse in Nigeria.