Unjust Withdrawal: PRNigeria Founder Demands N1bn, Reinstatement From NIPSS

The founder of PRNigeria and renowned public relations expert, Mr. Yushau Shuaib, has issued a formal pre-action notice to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), demanding his immediate reinstatement into the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) and compensation of N1 billion.

The demand, according to the notice, is for alleged reputational damage, emotional trauma, and financial losses resulting from what he describes as a wrongful withdrawal from the prestigious training programme.

The notice, dated June 16, 2025, was signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Yunus Abdulsalam, and addressed to the Director General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo.

It details a series of alleged infractions by the Institute, including cyberstalking, unlawful access to private communications, and arbitrary disciplinary measures. According to Mr. Shuaib’s legal team, these actions were part of a deliberate attempt to humiliate and expel him from the course under false pretences.

Mr. Shuaib, a registered Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) member, was nominated and admitted into SEC 47 earlier this year. However, tensions reportedly escalated after he received two queries over articles allegedly linked to him.

Rear Admiral A. A. Mustapha issued the queries on behalf of Barrister Nima Salman Mann, the acting Director of Studies at NIPSS. One of the articles in question, “NIPSS Goes Digital: Launches Paperless Platform after Submitting Landmark Report to President Tinubu,” was published by PRNigeria.

However, Mr. Shuaib maintained that he neither authored nor approved the publication. His lawyers argue that other media outlets independently circulated the article, which contained no classified or sensitive information.

The second query cited another article by Mr. Shuaib, on the Blue Economy, an area not directly connected to NIPSS activities. Titled “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective”, the piece, according to his legal team, was a constitutionally protected expression of opinion.

Despite this, the Institute reportedly treated the article as a breach of conduct after allegedly accessing Mr. Shuaib’s private email account without authorisation.

In the letter, the legal team condemned what NIPSS described as a “fault-finding voyage,” accusing the institution of violating Mr. Shuaib’s digital privacy by fabricating allegations. The notice stated that “the Institute’s actions constitute a flagrant violation of digital privacy and a breach of constitutional rights under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution.”

It further described the queries and withdrawal process as malicious and lacking merit, driven by “sheer institutional malice.” Despite Mr. Shuaib’s record of compliance and respect for due process, the notice argues he was subjected to treatment that fell short of the professional standards and values expected of a leading policy institution.

The legal notice issued a 14-day ultimatum to NIPSS to meet several demands. These include the unconditional reversal of all disciplinary actions, a formal apology addressed to Mr. Shuaib and copied to the NIPR, and his full reinstatement into SEC 47—complete with access to all programme benefits, including international study tours.

In addition to reinstatement, the notice seeks N1 billion in compensation for the alleged harm to Mr. Shuaib’s reputation, emotional well-being, and professional prospects. It also warned that failure to comply within the timeframe would trigger legal proceedings, including claims for aggravated damages and declaratory relief.