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

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Binta Nyako held that NIPSS acted within its disciplinary powers after determining that Shuaib breached the institute’s confidentiality rules. The court also found that Shuaib’s public apology on behalf of PRNigeria over a publication deemed offensive by the institute amounted to an admission of wrongdoing.

Justice Nyako ruled that Shuaib was given a fair hearing, having appeared before the institute’s disciplinary committee before the decision to withdraw him from the programme. The court further held that he was bound by the oath of secrecy and confidentiality he signed upon admission and was required to comply with the institute’s regulations throughout the course.

Reacting to the judgment, Shuaib announced plans to appeal, arguing that the court failed to distinguish between his personal conduct and the editorial independence of PRNigeria.

In a statement issued after the ruling, he maintained that he had relinquished the day-to-day management of PRNigeria before resuming at NIPSS in line with the institute’s admission requirements. He insisted he could not be held personally responsible for publications he neither authored nor edited during the programme.

Shuaib also criticised the court for not ruling on his allegation that NIPSS unlawfully accessed his private email communications, describing the alleged action as a violation of his constitutional right to privacy.

The suit, filed in July 2025, sought declarations that his withdrawal from the Senior Executive Course was unlawful and unconstitutional. Shuaib also asked the court to award N1 billion in damages, order his reinstatement to the programme and restrain the institute from further acts of alleged harassment, intimidation and cyberbullying.

Despite the setback, Shuaib said he remains confident that the Court of Appeal will give due consideration to the constitutional, contractual and privacy issues raised in the case.