The European-American University (EAU) has distanced itself from an honorary doctorate allegedly awarded to popular Hausa musician Dauda Rarara Kahutu, describing the ceremony as a “complete fraud.”
The event, held on Saturday at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, was attended by dignitaries including Katsina state governor, Dikko Radda. During the gathering, individuals posing as EAU representatives conferred honorary degrees on Rarara and others.
In a statement published on its website, the university denied any role in the event, stressing it had not awarded degrees to any of the listed recipients.
The institution revealed that it has no governing council and has withdrawn the fellowship of Idris Aliyu, who “posed as a governing council member,” for his part in the incident.
EAU further clarified that its vice chancellor is Luca Scotto di Tella de’ Douglas di Castel di Ripa and not Josephine Egbuta, as claimed.
It also corrected misinformation regarding its base, stating it is legally registered in France and holds a Royal Charter from the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara in Uganda—not Dominica or Panama.
The university said it will reach out to Nigerian authorities to pursue legal action against the organisers of the “fraudulent convocation.”
Read the statement below:
“The University has not authorized any convocation to be held in this location today, and this event has been organized fraudulently without the knowledge or consent of the University
“The persons organizing this event appear to have deceived others into believing they represented European-American University, but this was entirely false and they had no authority to do so, nor to take money on behalf of the University.
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.university/about/register-of-graduates These individuals are not honorands of the University and have no legitimate connection with us.
The name of Musari Audu Isyaku is cited as “Northern Nigeria representative of the institution”. This person has no authority to represent European-American University and this statement is false.
In the article, Idris Aliyu is cited as being a member of the Governing Council of the institution, and having represented the Vice Chancellor of the university. Idris Aliyu is not a member of the University’s governing body – there is no “Governing Council” – and has no authority to represent the University’s Vice Chancellor. Aliyu Idris was appointed to the Fellowship of the University with professorial status in Financial Management in 2024. This appointment has been revoked with immediate effect for his involvement with this fraudulent activity.
In April this year, the University published a Notice stating that the former Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr Mrs Josephine Egbuta, who had been dismissed from her position for cause, was no longer in any way authorized to represent the University. The current Vice-Chancellor of the University is Professor Luca Scotto di Tella de’ Douglas di Castel di Ripa.