The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the N1bn suit by publisher Yushau Shuaib against the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies over his withdrawal from the Senior Executive Course, ruling that NIPSS acted within its disciplinary powers

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a N1 billion suit filed by the founder of PRNigeria and Chief Executive Officer of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, Yushau Shuaib, against the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies over his withdrawal from the institute’s Senior Executive Course 47.

Also read: Watercress Suffers Setback as Court Dismisses Injunction Application in ARCON Case

Delivering judgment, Justice Binta Nyako held that NIPSS acted within its disciplinary powers in withdrawing Shuaib from the programme after finding that he breached the institute’s confidentiality rules.

The judge held that Shuaib, by issuing an apology on behalf of PRNigeria over a publication considered offensive by the institute, had effectively admitted wrongdoing. Justice Nyako further ruled that the publisher was afforded a fair hearing, having appeared before the institute’s disciplinary committee to respond to the allegations before disciplinary action was taken.

The court also held that Shuaib was bound by the oath of secrecy and confidentiality he subscribed to upon admission into the Senior Executive Course and was therefore obligated to comply with the institute’s rules throughout the programme.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Shuaib said he would challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, insisting that the court failed to distinguish between his personal conduct and the editorial independence of PRNigeria.

In a statement issued shortly after the judgment, he argued that he had relinquished the day-to-day management of PRNigeria before resuming at NIPSS in compliance with the institute’s admission requirements.

Shuaib had approached the court in July 2025 after NIPSS withdrew him from the Senior Executive Course, seeking declarations that the action was unlawful, unconstitutional and a breach of his fundamental rights.

This NIPSS suit dismissal comes after Shuaib contended that the institute violated his right to privacy by allegedly accessing and relying on his private email correspondence without his consent and infringed his right to freedom of expression by disciplining him over publications by PRNigeria.

Also read: Ghana Court Jails Nigerian Woman Over Fake Passport

The case highlights ongoing tensions between institutional rules and individual rights in Nigeria’s policy training programmes, with Shuaib expressing confidence that the appellate court would give due consideration to the constitutional, contractual and privacy issues raised.