The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday declared the decision of a former presidential candidate, Prof. Patrick Utomi, to form a shadow government in the country as illegal and unconditional.

In the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court held that the concept or formation of a shadow government/cabinet is alien to both the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the presidential system of government that the nation is Federal

Consequently, it issued an order, restraining Prof. Utomi and his associates from proceeding with the plan, saying they could not hide under their right to criticise or hold the government accountable, to engage in unlawful activities.

The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, which was brought before which was brought before the court by the Department of State Services, DSS.

The court held that the agency acted appropriately by approaching it to stop an action capable of posing a threat to national security.

The former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has disclosed that the former President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Gana also expressed optimism that Jonathan would defeat President Bola Ahned Tinubu to reclaim power after 10 years.

Gana confidently told journalists shortly after the PDP Congress in Minna, Niger State, at the weekend , that Nigerians have experienced two other leaders after Jonathan and were now yearning for his returns.

He said : ” In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years.

“Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan,” Gana said.

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.

The National Assembly on Tuesday unsealed the office of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Ohibaba.com gathered that the Deputy -Director, Sergeant-at-arm, Alabi Adedeji effected the removal of the seal.

Senator Natasha’s office was sealed since the 6th of March, when the Senate slammed a six months suspension on her for alleged gross misconducts and violation of senate rules.

It was however not clear who directed the removal of the seal as her official resumption is still pending until the outcome of her case against the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio, is settled in court.

Nevertheless, Senator Natasha stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday few hours after her office was unsealed to resume legislative duties.

The Kogi Central lawmaker arrived the National Assembly complex at exactly 12:30pm accompanied by hundreds of her supporters amid heavy resistance from the Police and Sergeants-at -arms who were trying to stop many of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters from gaining entrance along with her into the National Assembly.

Akpoti-Uduaghan went straight unhindered to her office that was already cleaned up and decently prepared for her arrival after the doors were unsealed earlier in the day.

Addressing journalists, Natasha narrated the ordeal she passed through in the last six months; -with particular reference to alleged blackmail from Professor Mgbeke on FACEBOOK and insisting that her suspension is illegal.

Unfazed and defiant, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she has no apology whatsoever to tender to the leadership of the National Assembly regarding her alleged misconduct and violation of senate rules.

To the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she can’t be beaten to submission or treated like his house maid.

Meanwhile, ‎the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has fixed 27 October to address the issue of jurisdiction regarding the ongoing defamation trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. ‎‎

At the resumption of proceedings, the prosecutor, David Kaswe, was set to begin trial but Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team headed by Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) raised an objection. ‎‎

The legal team challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court to hear her criminal defamation case.

The key arguments by her lawyers are that the charges are unconstitutional and politically motivated, intended as a witch-hunt to intimidate opposition voices. ‎‎

The defense team contends that defamation is a civil matter and that criminalizing it via the Federal Government’s prosecution is an abuse of prosecutorial power by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

‎‎The defense also noted that the AGF lacks legal right to prosecute private defamation claims and argues that the selective enforcement of these charges violates her constitutional rights and suppresses free speech.‎‎

Her legal team insists the court must determine the jurisdiction issue before any further trial proceedings.

This therefore prompted an adjournment by Justice Chizoba Orji.‎‎

This particular case stems from allegations connected to statements she made concerning Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. ‎‎Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is also on trial at the Federal High Court over cyber crime charges.

That case too is at the stage of determining whether the court has jurisdiction or not.

At the court a section of the senator’s supporters spoke on the reopened of her office at the National Assembly complex.‎‎‎