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Court declares Prof Pat Utomi’s shadow government formation unlawful, illegal

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Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, the plan by a former Presidential candidate, Prof Pat Utomi, to establish a Shadow Government in Nigeria.

The Judge on Monday, issued an order restraining Utomi and his associates from proceeding with their plan to establish a shadow government/cabinet in the country.

Justice Omotosho issued the order while delivering judgment on a suit filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, against Utomi.

Justice Omotosho declared the concept of shadow government or cabinet as unconstitutional and an alien concept to the nation’s presidential system of government.

The judge held that Utomi and his associates cannot hide under the rights of association and to criticise the government to engage in unlawful activities.

He commended the plaintiff for filing the suit and held among others, that it was within the right of the DSS to take steps to prevent acts capable today threatening the nation’s internal security.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, was instituted by the DSS, which had argued that Utomi’s initiative was unconstitutional and posed a threat to national security.

The security agency asked the court to declare the move illegal, describing it as a parallel authority not recognised by the 1999 Constitution.

The DSS contended that the proposed shadow structure, if allowed, could incite unrest, embolden separatist groups and destabilise the country’s democratic system.

It therefore sought a perpetual injunction restraining Utomi, his agents and associates from pursuing the project.

In the final address of DSS dated July 10, DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), had maintained that Utomi lacked constitutional authority to establish any such government, likening the plan to early warning signs of insurgent groups.

“We know how Boko Haram started, and even IPOB. We must not wait for a crisis to happen before we act,” he argued.

However, Utomi’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had countered that the initiative was not a parallel authority but a civic action designed to scrutinise government policies and proffer solutions.

He insisted that branding it as subversive amounted to gagging Nigerians.

“They are trying to chain Nigerians with shackles stronger than those that dehumanised slaves over 500 years ago,” Ozekhome told the court.

He had argued that the group neither has an executive, legislature nor judiciary, but is a coalition of like-minded citizens and urged the court to dismiss the suit as an attempt to criminalise dissent.

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“I’ll never settle for a barber, yahoo boy or a poor man” — nail tech’s list of men she says she can’t marry sparks reactions online

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A Nigerian nail technician has set social media talking after openly listing the kind of men she says she can never settle for.

In a now-viral post, she stated clearly that she refuses to “settle for less” and went on to mention professions and traits she considers a no-go area.

According to her, she can never settle for a barber, an aza man, a yahoo boy, a mechanic, an actor, a laundry man, a hype man, or a plumber. She also added that she wouldn’t marry a man with a high body count or a poor man.

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Nigeria Police Force successfully repatriates $23,000 to international romance scam victim

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The Nigeria Police Force INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja has successfully repatriated the sum of Twenty-Three Thousand United States Dollars ($23,000) recovered from an international romance scammer to the victim in The Cayman Islands.

A statement from CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the force, says the repatriation followed a request received from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service seeking assistance of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja to investigate a Nigerian national, Achufusi Obioma Ikenna, who defrauded a resident of the Cayman Islands through an online romance scam.

‘’Acting on the request, INTERPOL NCB Abuja conducted discreet, intelligence-led investigations which led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the sum of $23,000.

Following the completion of all necessary documentation and in collaboration with international partners, the recovered funds were formally handed over to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, through the British High Commission in Abuja, represented by Mr. Shaun McLeary, for secure delivery to the victim.’’

Hundeyin added that the suspect will be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.

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Bosso replaces Danjuma as Imo Police Command CP

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The Imo State Police Command, Owerri, has a new Police Commissioner in the person of Audu Garba Bosso, who replaced Aboki Danjuma, the outgoing Police Commissioner. Danjuma was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and posted to Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Upon assumption of duty, CP Bosso called on sister security agencies, stakeholders, and all residents to collaborate with the police in tackling crime and social vices.

He stressed that community-based policing, intelligence-led operations, and a people-friendly approach will guide his administration, with strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights.

In a brief biography made available to journalists by the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, it was revealed that CP Bosso was born on December 31, 1967, in Bosso, Niger State.

He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on June 10, 1994, as a Cadet ASP, Course 18/1994.

Revealing his academic history, Okoye stated that CP Bosso holds an NCE in Geography/Biology, a B.Sc.Ed in Biology, and an M.Sc in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also a member of the National Institute of Policing Studies (MNIPS).

In the course of his career, he has attended key professional courses, including PMF Mobile Training School, Citizenship and Leadership Course, Community Policing Course, TLCC, and SLCC, which have shaped his strategic and community-oriented policing philosophy.

The command’s spokesperson added that before his recent deployment to Imo State, CP Bosso served as DPO in over twenty-two divisions nationwide across Sokoto and Kwara State Commands, including Bale Gudu, Dange-Shuni, Wamako, and Kebbe Divisions in Sokoto State, as well as ‘B’ Division, Surulere, Ilorin, Kwara State Command, among others.

“He also held strategic appointments across several state commands, which include: CSP Administration, Kwara State Command; 2i/c Ilorin Metro Area Command, Kwara; 2i/c CID, Katsina State Command; AC Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Area Commander, Saki, Oyo State Command; Area Commander, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State Command; ACP Administration, Enugu State Command; Area Commander, Iyekogba, Edo State Command; Director CPTU, Police Service Commission, Jos; Director Finance & Administration, POLAC Wudil, Kano State; DCP G.I FCID Annex, Gombe State; DCP Operations, Borno State Command; and CP G.I FCID Annex, Kaduna State, before his posting to Imo State,” Okoye stated.

The new Commissioner has called on all Imo residents to actively partner with the Police and other security agencies through timely information sharing and participation in community policing initiatives, assuring the public of his commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining peace, and fostering a people-friendly policing culture across the state.

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