The publisher of PRNigeria, Malam Yushau Shuaib, has told the court that the ₦18.3 million he paid for the SEC 47 programme included full accommodation for the entire training period, and that the room was officially given to him based on that payment.
He explained that his participation in the programme has not been legally terminated, stressing that the issue of his suspension and removal is still being challenged in court and has not been finally decided.
Shuaib argued that whether or not his suspension is valid, and whether he should still have access to the accommodation provided, are key matters that the court must determine in the main case.
He also told the court that he has already been denied access to the hostel room, while his personal items such as laptops, documents, and other valuables are still inside without proper protection.
According to him, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) is acting unfairly by trying to take over the room, saying this would wrongly suggest that his withdrawal from the programme was valid.
He further argued that the request by NIPSS is like asking the court to make a final decision too early, without hearing the full case.
Shuaib insisted that the proper approach is to maintain the current situation until the case is fully heard, adding that the institute will not suffer any harm if the room remains as it is, but he could lose his property and face unfair treatment.
The dispute began after Shuaib was withdrawn from the SEC 47 programme, a decision he says was unjust and based on unproven allegations just a few months after the training started.
Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yunus Abdulsalam, he is asking the court for his full reinstatement into SEC 47 with all rights and benefits restored.
He is also demanding ₦1 billion in damages for emotional and reputational harm, ₦100 million for legal costs, and a permanent order stopping NIPSS from harassing or intimidating him.
In addition, he is challenging what he described as unlawful access to his private email, saying it violates his right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako has fixed May 6, 2026, for hearing of the case.
The outcome is expected to determine not only Shuaib’s status in the SEC 47 programme but also broader issues around due process, contract rights, and privacy in public institutions.