Directors and Research Fellows at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos have called on the Foreign Affairs Minister to dissuade the Director General of the Institute to desist from wasting its financial resources on needless litigation.

The aggrieved Research fellows and Directors described as wasteful, , the decision of the Director General, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa to spend “the sum of N60 million to hire the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to prosecute a case of theft of intellectual property, emblements of sponsorship fund brought against the institute by the project consultant who is claiming that the Director General appropriated the project idea and allegedly shared the funds sourced from sponsors among his favoured staff.”

A director of the institute who pleaded anonymity, said “the Directors and Senior Research Fellows have advised the DG against embarking on a legal action that will tarnish the image of the institution in the eyes of the local and international community but there seems to be a clique that believe that this is an avenue for them to make money.” According to the source, “the DG has shunned the advice of the Governing Council and other senior research fellows to save the resources of the institute by exploring alternative conflict resolution approach but has he refused.