The founder of PRNigeria, Malam Yushau Shuaib, has issued a pre-action notice to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), demanding his immediate reinstatement into the Senior Executive Course 47 (SEC 47) and a compensation of N1 billion for what he describes as unlawful ejection, reputational damage, emotional distress, and financial losses.
In the notice dated June 16, 2025, and signed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Yunus Abdulsalam, Shuaib accused the Institute of gross misconduct, cyberstalking, and violation of his digital privacy. The notice was addressed to the Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo.
Shuaib, a public relations professional and member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), had been nominated and admitted into SEC 47 earlier this year. However, tensions reportedly escalated between him and the Institute following two disciplinary queries linked to media publications.
One of the publications cited by NIPSS, a report titled “NIPSS Goes Digital: Launches Paperless Platform after Submitting Landmark Report to President Tinubu,” was allegedly published by PRNigeria. The article was deemed offensive by the Institute, despite Shuaib’s insistence that he neither authored nor approved it. According to his legal team, the content was independently published by third-party platforms and contained no confidential material.
The second article, “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective,” was authored by Shuaib and had no connection to NIPSS. His legal counsel argues that it represents a constitutionally protected opinion piece, and accused NIPSS of unlawfully accessing his private email to use it as a basis for disciplinary action.
“The Institute’s conduct is not only a violation of Mr. Shuaib’s privacy rights but also a breach of his freedom of expression under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution,” the notice stated. It described the actions taken by NIPSS as “a deliberate witch-hunt driven by institutional malice and a disregard for professional ethics.”
According to the legal team, Shuaib complied with all protocols and maintained professional decorum throughout the ordeal but was nonetheless subjected to punitive measures that were inconsistent with the core values of the institution.
The pre-action notice demands the following within 14 days:
Full and unconditional withdrawal of all disciplinary actions against Shuaib
A written public apology addressed to him and copied to the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
Immediate reinstatement into SEC 47 with all rights and privileges, including access to international study tours
Compensation of N1 billion for reputational harm, emotional trauma, and financial losses
Failure to meet these demands, the notice warns, will lead to legal proceedings seeking aggravated damages and declaratory relief.
If pursued in court, the case is expected to raise critical issues surrounding digital rights, institutional transparency, and the limits of disciplinary powers within Nigeria’s foremost policy think tank.
As at press time, NIPSS has not issued an official response to the pre-action notice.
