The DSS has chosen to submit to the courts to determine if the actions and utterances of the revered professor can be situated within the confines of the Constitution
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeboro Adamson, has backed the Department of State Services (DSS) for initiating legal proceedings against Professor Pat Utomi’s recently announced shadow government. Speaking on Arise TV Sunday night, Adamson described the DSS’s action as “civilised” and in line with its constitutional mandate.
“The DSS has a mandate, which includes the detection and prevention of subversion, terrorism, espionage, among others,” he said. “How do we situate the statement of the erudite professor that he has assembled people who will man what he tagged a shadow cabinet?”
Utomi launched the Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government as a national emergency response to monitor governance and offer policy alternatives. However, the DSS filed a legal challenge, viewing the move as potentially subversive.
Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Jonathan, declared, “What Professor Utomi is doing is not activism. It is treason.”
Utomi maintains the initiative is lawful: “This is not an attempt to overthrow the government. We will observe, critique and offer alternatives.”