News
DSS sues Prof Utomi over alleged shadow govt creation

The Department of State Services, DSS, has dragged Prof. Pat Utomi to court over his alleged plan to establish what he called a shadow government in the country.
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the DSS prayed the court to declare the move as an attack on the Constitution.
Ekwutosblog reports that in the fresh suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, Utomi, the 2007 Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, is sued as the sole defendant.
The secret police, in the suit filed on May 13 by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, argued that the move by Utomi was intended to create chaos and destabilise the country.
The DSS contended that not only was the planned shadow government an aberration, it constituted a grave attack on the Constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government that is currently in place.
The security outfit expressed concern that such a structure, styled as a “shadow government,” if left unchecked, may incite political unrest, cause inter-group tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist entities to replicate similar parallel arrangements, all of which would pose a grave threat to national security.
The plaintiff, therefore, urged the court to declare the purported “shadow government” or “shadow cabinet” being planned by Utomi and his associates as “unconstitutional and amounts to an attempt to create a parallel authority not recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
It also sought a declaration that “under Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, the establishment or operation of any governmental authority or structure outside the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is unconstitutional, null, and void.”
The plaintiff prayed the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Utomi, his agents, and associates “from further taking any steps towards the establishment or operation of a ‘shadow government,’ ‘shadow cabinet’ or any similar entity not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
The plaintiff, in its grounds of argument, hinged its prayers on the fact that Section 1(1) of the Constitution declares its supremacy and binding force on all persons and authorities in Nigeria.
It added that Section 1(2) prohibits the governance of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
According to the DSS, Section 14(2)(a) states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria, from whom government through the Constitution derives all its powers and authority.
It argued that Utomi’s proposed shadow government lacked constitutional recognition and authority, thereby contravening the aforementioned provisions.
The plaintiff further stated in a supporting affidavit that it is the principal domestic intelligence and security agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, statutorily mandated to detect and prevent threats to the internal security of Nigeria, including subversive activities capable of undermining national unity, peace, and constitutional order.
The DSS added that it is statutorily empowered to safeguard the internal security of Nigeria and prevent any threats to the lawful authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constituent institutions.
It stated that it has monitored, “through intelligence reports and open source material, public statements and interviews granted by the defendant, Professor Patrick Utomi, in which he announced the purported establishment of what he termed a ‘shadow government’ or ‘shadow cabinet,’ comprising of several persons that make up its ‘Ministers.’”
News
I will not abandon projects – Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has promised to complete all projects within the tenure of his administration, pledging that no project will be abandoned by his government.
The Governor made this known during groundbreaking of township roads at Rigasa ward in Igabi local government of Kaduna State on Friday.
Speaking extempore in Hausa, the Governor said that the road project will be executed without collecting any debt, adding that his administration will not be indebted to any contractor who completes his project.
Sani further said that the four road projects in Rigasa has been awarded to China Civil Engineering Corporation(CCEC), a company he described as versatile and credible.
According to him, the project will be completed within one year as he has already given 50% mobilization fees to CCEC.
The Governor pledged to transform Rigasa into a modern township with quality infrastructure and social amenities.
He described the ceremony as “not just about breaking ground; it is about rewarding hard work. It is about opening up opportunities for the hardworking people of Igabi Local Government.
“Rigasa is one of the largest and most populous wards in Nigeria. It is populated by the urban poor. It has suffered neglect for so long. Its infrastructure deficit is worrisome.”
Governor Sani noted that despite its proximity to the city center and being home to hardworking and resourceful citizens, Rigasa had been overlooked for too long.
He recalled the significant support he received from Rigasa during the 2023 governorship election, noting that 32.06% of the total votes from Igabi LGA came from the ward, adding that “for this, I remain eternally grateful to you.”
Governor Sani emphasized that the project would directly benefit thousands of households in the area.
“In Igabi Local Government lies a large chunk of people who support us through their daily sacrifices as farmers, civil servants, businessmen and women.
“Through their sacrifices, they contribute significantly to our economy as well as our GDP. Investing, therefore, in roads like these will directly improve the livelihoods of thousands of households,” he said.
Similarly, the Governor performed another groundbreaking of the road reconstruction of Zango at Tudun Wada ward in Kaduna South LGA.
According to him, “I have an emotional attachment to this area because I am a product of Kaduna Polytechnic.
“I understand and share in the pains of the inhabitants of this area who have suffered neglect for decades. There is very little road infrastructure in this area.
“The few existing ones are dilapidated. This area is populated by the urban poor who are making huge contributions to the development of our dear State.”
Governor Sani vowed to turn the pains of the residents of Tudun Wada to joy, adding that “today is the beginning of good things for Zango and other parts of Tudun Wada.”
“This road is hugely significant because it passes through several key establishments like Zango Cattle Market, Animal Feed Stores, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi College, Islamic Medical Foundation, and School of Health Technology, as well as its proximity to the Kaduna City Centre and link to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western By-Pass,“ he added.
The Governor pointed out that his government has made significant progress in road construction and rehabilitation since he assumed office.
“Under our Rural Revitalization Agenda, we flagged off the construction of 85 roads covering 785km in the first phase, with 44 already completed and the rest nearing completion.
“Under the second phase, we are delivering over 50 more roads and bridges totalling 550km,” he added.
News
Terrorism: DSS resumes prosecution of Ansaru commander Al-Barnawi, four others

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an application filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, to expedite proceedings in the trial of the suspected mastermind of the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, Khalid Al-Barnawi and four others.
The DSS, through its counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, had moved the application for accelerated hearing on the ground that the service is prepared to ensure that the case is determined in a timely manner.
In the application, which was not opposed by counsels to the defendants, parties will be allowed to watch video recordings presented by the DSS to prove that the extrajudicial statements made by the defendants was done voluntarily as against the claim of some of the defendants.
Justice Nwite then adjourned the matter until October 23 and October 24 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
Ekwutosblog reports that Al-Barnawi is being prosecuted on terrorism related charges along with other suspected members of his group.
Other co-defendants include Mohammed Bashir Saleh; Umar Mohammed Bello, a.k.a Datti; Mohammed Salisu and Yakubu Nuhu, a.k.a Bello Maishayi.
They are, among others, accused of being members of the Ansaru terrorist group, also known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan.
The defendants are also alleged to have conspired among themselves to carry out acts of terrorism between 2011 and 2013 in Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and other states in the northern part of the country.
He was reported to have claimed that it carried out an attack on a maximum security prison in Abuja in 2012 during which dozens of inmates were freed.
The DSS had, in April 2016, arrested Al-Barnawi in Lokoja in Kogi, five years after the attack on the Abuja UN Building.
Earlier, the United States placed a $5 million (£3.5m) bounty on Al-Barnawi’s head after branding him one of three Nigerian “specially designated global terrorists.”
The attack, the first of such in Nigeria on an international organisation, left over 20 persons dead and over 70 others injured.
News
Awujale stool: Aspirants warned against seeking diabolical power

The Head of Fusengbuwa ruling House of Ijebu Ode, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, has called on aspirants seeking to fill the vacant stool of Awujale of Ijebuland never to seek ‘diabolical power’ as the selection process will soon commence.
Owoyemi also clarified that the ruling house is yet to commence the selection process.
He made these statements when he received members of the Tunwase ruling house, who visited him, to affirm his leadership as the ‘Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa ruling house.
Recall that the throne of the Awujale of Ijebuland became vacant, following the demise of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who joined his ancestors on July 13, 2025, at 91, after reigning for 65 years.
Addressing journalists after the courtesy visit, Otunba Owoyemi said, “The Tunwase family is a very important unit in the Fusengbuwa ruling house. We can’t push them over because this is a family that had in the past produced three Awujales; including Oba Adenuga Folagbade. So, it is a thing of joy that they have come to accept my leadership as the head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.
“They said, we should ensure that they are carried along and given due recognition in whatever we do in Fusengbuwa ruling house, especially when the process for the selection of the new Awujale commences, and that is what we are going to do.
“I am really glad to welcome them and I am assuring them of my upright leadership and the commitment to produce the best Awujale in the history of Ijebu and Yoruba land as a whole.
“We heard that some people somewhere said they are setting up a screening committee for the selection of Awujale, they can do whatever they like, but the Fusengbuwa ruling house is yet to do anything in that regard.”
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