News
Pat Utomi opens up on those behind Shadow Government
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Professor-Pat-Utomi.jpg&description=Pat Utomi opens up on those behind Shadow Government', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Professor-Pat-Utomi.jpg&description=Pat Utomi opens up on those behind Shadow Government', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Political Economist and Labour Party chieftain, Pat Utomi has revealed the identities of individuals who will form Nigeria’s first organized shadow government.
Speaking from the United States in an interview with Daily Sun, Utomi described the move as a way to offer Nigerians credible policy options apart from those of the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He made it clear that the initiative is not a rebellion or an attempt to take over power, but a democratic step aimed at engaging the government through informed criticism and public discussions.
The idea is being driven by the Big Tent Coalition, a group made up of members of the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), civil society organizations, academics, and professionals.
According to Utomi, the group came together due to growing dissatisfaction with poor governance, deepening poverty, and weak accountability in Nigeria.
Dele Farotimi, a known human rights lawyer, is in charge of the Ombudsman and Good Governance section.
Other members of the team include Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Halima Ahmed, Daniel Ikuonobe, Obi Ajuga, and David Okonkwo.
The shadow cabinet also includes experts like Dr. Adefolusade Adebayo, Dr. Peter Agadah, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Chibuzor Nwachukwu, Salvation Alibor, Bilkisu Magoro, Dr Jerome Okolo, Dr Leke Pitan and Dr. Victor Tubo.
These individuals are responsible for different areas such as education, economy, health, national security, and youth development.
Utomi stated that the shadow government will meet often to examine the federal government’s actions, suggest better options, and inform the public about matters affecting the nation.
He said this will help move national conversations away from empty loyalty and towards solutions backed by facts and research.
He noted that the current economic situation in Nigeria is troubling.
Many businesses are closing, joblessness is spreading, and people are losing confidence in government.
He said Nigerians need real progress, not just promises.
One of the key ideas from the group is a push for a new way of handling security.
Utomi said he supports a three-level system that includes community police, state-level officers, and a federal guard to deal with the country’s security challenges more effectively.
The Federal Government has directed banks and other financial institutions across the country to immediately comply with sanctions against individuals and organisations linked to terrorism financing by freezing their assets and reporting suspicious transactions.
The directive followed recent sanctions imposed by the United States on a Nigerian man, Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, and three Bureau De Change operators accused of helping move funds for the Islamic State group.
The action formed part of a wider operation targeting terror financing networks operating in Europe, the Middle East and West Africa.
Authorities disclosed that the affected BDC companies are Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited and Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited.
The firms were accused of taking part in financial transactions connected to terrorist activities.
Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Sanctions Committee said all financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses must fully obey existing sanctions rules.
The committee directed them to freeze assets linked to sanctioned persons, file reports on suspicious transactions and notify the relevant authorities whenever matches are discovered.
The committee stated that Nigeria would not allow terrorists or those funding them to make use of the country’s financial system.
It added that the action taken by the United States supports measures already introduced by Nigeria and strengthens efforts to block the flow of money to terrorist groups.
The committee also noted that Nigeria had earlier expanded its sanctions list on June 18, 2026, by adding six individuals and one company.
Those listed include Ibrahim Yakubu Ogirima, Adamu Chiroma, Ibrahim Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar Usman, Babangida Muhammed, Adamu Hammajam and Abbal Bako & Sons Bureau De Change Limited.
According to the committee, the sanctions were based on intelligence reports, financial investigations and assessments carried out by different government agencies.
The investigations reportedly found grounds to believe that the affected individuals and entities provided financial support and assistance to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and related terrorist networks.
The committee praised the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National Security Adviser for their involvement in the sanctions process.
It also commended the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit for their roles in disrupting financial channels used by terrorist groups.
It said the agencies had worked together to stop terrorists from accessing funds and resources needed to sustain their operations.
News
DAY 12 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT: Watch Arterial Road N16 – Ring Road Il Intersection linking Jahi to Gwarimpa District
This is the road.
Interchange and road at Arterial Road N16 – Ring Road Il Intersection linking Jahi District to Gwarimpa District.
#FCTRenewedHope
#FCTProjectsCommissioning
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna over an alleged N8.68 billion fraud linked to a CCTV surveillance contract.
Arraigned alongside the ex-governor were his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, and five companies over allegations bordering on corruption, money laundering, and financial misconduct.
The case, filed under charge number FHC/KD/93C/2026, was brought before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna.
Other defendants listed in the amended 11-count charge include Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The anti-graft agency equally mentioned Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor, in one of the counts. He is currently said to be at large.
The ICPC stated that the charges stem from the award of a contract for the procurement, survey planning, final design, and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television, CCTV, surveillance system across the Kaduna metropolis.
The anti-graft agency alleged that El-Rufai, while serving as governor, approved the contract worth over eight billion naira, N8,682,574,054.94, in favour of Singularity Network Security Limited, despite the company allegedly lacking the required technical capacity and experience to execute such a project.
FG freezes bank accounts of confirmed terrorism financiers(See list)
DAY 12 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT: Watch Arterial Road N16 – Ring Road Il Intersection linking Jahi to Gwarimpa District
ICPC arraigns El-Rufai, six others over alleged N8.68bn CCTV contract fraud
-
News23 hours agoKuje-Gwagwalada Road Was a Death Trap for Decades, Tinubu Declares as He Commissions Phase I Dual Carriageway (Photos)
-
News23 hours agoJUST IN: Senate passes Police Bill
-
News11 hours ago2027: Be Prepared to struggle for power, Wike tells PDP candidates
-
News22 hours agoBandit Kingpin Ado Aleru Declares fellow Bandit Leader who k!lled Gen Rabe Wanted
-
Sports22 hours agoNigerians Are Bitter About Super Eagles’ World Cup Absence, Wike Tells Ex-Super Eagles Captain,Yobo
-
News24 hours agoScienceOpen Names Nigerian Scholar-Journalist Max Amuchie Expert Member
-
News19 hours agoSokoto High Court slams death sentence on 3 men, including foreign national for terrorism , arms trafficking
-
News3 hours agoXenophobic attacks: FG evacuates another 66 citizens from South Africa
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login