Malam Yushau Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria, has issued a formal pre-action notice to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), demanding immediate reinstatement to the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) and N1 billion in compensation for alleged wrongful withdrawal from the elite training programme.
The notice, dated June 16, 2025, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yunus Abdulsalam, was addressed to NIPSS Director General Professor Ayo Omotayo, outlining what Shuaib's legal team described as a series of infractions by the institute.
Allegations of Digital Privacy Violation
According to the legal notice, NIPSS allegedly engaged in cyberstalking and unlawful access to Shuaib's private communications as part of what his lawyers termed a "fault-finding voyage" aimed at fabricating misconduct charges against him.
"The Institute's actions constitute a flagrant violation of digital privacy and a breach of constitutional rights under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution," the letter stated.
Disputed Articles at Center of Controversy
The public relations expert, who was nominated and admitted to SEC 47 earlier this year, reportedly faced disciplinary action over two newspaper articles. The first, titled "NIPSS Goes Digital: Launches Paperless Platform after Submitting Landmark Report to President Tinubu," was published by PRNigeria, though Shuaib maintains he neither authored nor sanctioned it.
A second query referenced an article on the Blue Economy authored by Shuaib, which his legal team described as constitutionally protected expression unrelated to NIPSS activities.
The queries were reportedly issued by Rear Admiral A. A. Mustapha on behalf of Barrister Nima Salman Mann, the acting Director of Studies at NIPSS.
Demands and Ultimatum
The legal notice gives NIPSS a 14-day ultimatum to meet several demands, including:
Formal and unconditional withdrawal of all disciplinary actions against Shuaib
A written apology addressed to him and copied to the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
Immediate reinstatement into SEC 47 with full privileges restored, particularly access to international study tours
Compensation of N1 billion for alleged reputational damage, emotional trauma, and financial losses
The letter warns that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will result in legal proceedings, including claims for aggravated damages and declaratory relief.
As of the time of this report, NIPSS has not officially responded to the pre-action notice. The case, when filed, may raise significant questions around digital rights, institutional accountability, and freedom of expression within Nigeria's premier policy think tank.
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