The European-American University has denied claims circulating in the Nigerian press that it conferred honorary doctorate degrees on President Bola Tinubu’s staunch supporter, Hausa musician Dauda Kahutu Rarara, and several others at a supposed convocation at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
In a statement released on Saturday, the school clarified that no such event was authorised and described the gathering as a fraudulent exercise organised without its knowledge or consent.
The University stressed that those behind the purported convocation deceived the public by falsely claiming to represent the institution and collecting money in its name.
European-American University further confirmed that it has not awarded honorary doctorates to Rarara, Alhaji Ahmed Saleh Jnr., Mustapha Abdullahi Bujawa, or Tarela Boroh, noting that none of them appear in its official Register of Graduates.
The statement also dismissed claims made in the press that Musari Audu Isyaku is the University’s representative in Northern Nigeria, labelling the claim as “entirely false.”
Similarly, reports identifying Idris Aliyu as a Governing Council member and representative of the vice chancellor were rejected.
The University pointed out that it has no governing council, and while Aliyu was once granted a Fellowship with professorial status in Financial Management in 2024, that appointment has now been revoked with immediate effect due to his involvement in the fraudulent activity.
The University reiterated that its current Vice Chancellor is Professor Luca Scotto di Tella de’ Douglas di Castel di Ripa, while its former Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mrs. Josephine Egbuta, was dismissed earlier this year and is no longer authorised to act on its behalf.
Clarifying its status, the institution emphasised that it is legally established as a nonprofit private university in France and holds a Royal Charter of Incorporation from the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara in Uganda. Past references to operations in Dominica and Panama, it said, are outdated and invalid.
European-American University confirmed that it will be contacting Nigerian legal authorities to halt the issuing of fake certificates linked to the fraudulent convocation and ensure that those responsible face prosecution.
The statement read, “Disclaimer – Fake ‘convocation’ in Nigeria – the University has NOT conferred an honorary degree on Dauda Kahutu Rarara.”
“European-American University has not conferred any honorary doctorate degrees upon Dauda Kahutu Rarara, Alhaji Ahmed Saleh jnr., Mustapha Abdullahi Bujawa and Tarela Boroh. All holders of degrees from the University are listed in the Register of Graduates at https://europeanamerican.
“The University’s legal status is explained fully at this page. The article states that European-American University is in both Dominica and Panama. This is false and refers to expired past authorities of the University that were never concurrent,” it said.
“The University is currently established as a nonprofit private institution of higher education in France and also holds a Royal Charter of Incorporation from the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara (in Uganda).”
“The University will be contacting the legal authorities in Nigeria to stop the issuing of fake University certificates by the individuals behind this fraudulent activity, who should face the full force of the law,” the statement added.
