A Nigerian public relations expert, Yushau A. Shuaib, has taken the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging unlawful withdrawal from a senior executive course. Shuaib, the founder of PRNigeria, is seeking N1 billion in damages for emotional trauma and reputational damage, as well as N100 million in litigation costs.

The lawsuit, filed by Shuaib’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yunus Abdulsalam, aims to nullify his withdrawal from the Senior Executive Course 47 and reinstate him with full rights and benefits. Shuaib is also seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent NIPSS and its officials from further harassment, intimidation, or cyberbullying.

The case raises several issues, including whether the publication of a news article by PRNigeria can be attributed to Shuaib as misconduct, and whether NIPSS’s alleged access to his private email account without consent constitutes a violation of his right to privacy. Shuaib contends that disciplinary actions taken against him for professional opinions expressed in an article infringed on his right to freedom of expression.

Shuaib was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to attend the course, which was approved by the President of Nigeria. Despite complying with all requirements, he was subjected to arbitrary disciplinary measures, including queries over two articles published by PRNigeria. Shuaib maintains that he did not author or edit the articles and that the queries lacked basis in the NIPSS Code of Conduct.

The court is yet to fix a date for hearing, but the case highlights the importance of protecting individuals’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy. The outcome of the case may have significant implications for the media and public relations industries in Nigeria. As the case progresses, it will be important to monitor the court’s decisions and their potential impact on the country’s media landscape.