Taiwo Popoola
The European-American University has disowned a purported honorary doctorate conferred on popular Hausa musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, describing it as fake.
The musician was awarded the degree on Saturday at a ceremony held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, attended by dignitaries, including the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda. The event organisers presented themselves as representatives of the university.
However, in a statement published on its official website, the institution denied authorising the event or conferring any honorary degree on Mr Rarara.
“The University has not authorised any convocation to be held in this location today, and this event has been organised fraudulently without the knowledge or consent of the University,” the statement read.
The university also said it did not confer degrees on other recipients mentioned at the event, including Alhaji Ahmed Saleh jnr, Mustapha Abdullahi Bujawa, and Tarela Boroh.
It added that the individuals who paraded themselves as its officials — including Musari Audu Isyaku, who claimed to be its Northern Nigeria representative, and Idris Aliyu, who posed as a member of its governing council — had no authority to act on its behalf. The institution stressed that it does not have a governing council and has revoked Mr Aliyu’s previous fellowship appointment for his role in the alleged fraud.
The statement further clarified that its current Vice Chancellor is Professor Luca Scotto di Tella de’ Douglas di Castel di Ripa, not Dr Josephine Egbuta, a former vice chancellor dismissed earlier this year.
The university also dismissed claims about being based in Dominica and Panama, stating it is legally registered in France and holds a Royal Charter of Incorporation from the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara in Uganda.
It added that it would be contacting Nigerian authorities to take action against those behind the fraudulent convocation.
