The State Security Service (SSS) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja with a fresh application seeking to restrain Professor Patrick Okedinachi Utomi from organizing rallies, road shows, or making public comments regarding his proposed shadow government.

The application, filed on Wednesday, comes amid intelligence reports that Utomi, who is currently abroad and expected to return to Nigeria on June 6, plans to engage in protests and media activities to promote his shadow government initiative.

Details of the Court Application

The SSS, through its legal team led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), is seeking "an order of interlocutory injunction" to prevent Utomi, his agents, associates, or anyone acting on his behalf from staging road shows, rallies, public lectures, or any form of public gathering aimed at promoting the shadow government concept.

According to court documents, the security agency argues that Utomi's planned activities "constitute a serious threat to public order, safety and national unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." The SSS emphasized its statutory responsibility to safeguard internal security and prevent threats to the country's lawful authority.

SSS Intelligence Reports

In its supporting affidavit, the SSS claimed that Utomi intends "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."

The security agency further warned that "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, loss of lives and property."

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

This application is part of a substantive suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025) previously filed by the SSS against Utomi. The security agency noted that despite being served with the originating process and having legal representation through Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN) since May 20, 2025, Utomi has continued to make public statements about the shadow government.

The SSS specifically referenced Utomi's participation in the fourth edition of the Topaz Lecture Series at the University of Lagos on May 26, where he reportedly defended the creation of the shadow government and stated that if the court rules in favor of the SSS, his group would adopt a different name.

Legal Rationale

Explaining the rationale behind the application, Kehinde stated: "The civil suit was filed by the State Security Service 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."

He added that the application was necessary because "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 civilized parties before the court are expected to maintain the status quo."

The SSS emphasized that it is seeking the court's interpretation of "whether any form of government by whatever nomenclature can be formed or allowed outside the Constitution" and that it has no intention of arresting anyone in connection with this matter, having submitted itself to the court's jurisdiction.

The court is yet to set a date for the hearing of this fresh application.