The European-American University (EAU) has extended an olive branch to popular Hausa singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, and three others after they were duped with fake honorary degrees at a ceremony in Abuja.
In a statement released on its official website on Sunday, the institution disclosed that the Abuja event, which was widely reported in Nigeria and abroad, was masterminded by fraudsters who “claimed falsely to represent European-American University.”
The statement read: “Dauda Kahutu Rarara and others were presented with fake honorary degrees at a ceremony in Abuja that was organized by fraudsters… The University has made a report to the Police in Nigeria for their investigation and action.”
The institution said it believes Rarara and the other awardees were not complicit in the scam. “The University recognizes that Dauda Kahutu Rarara and others who received these fake honorary degrees are most likely innocent victims of the fraudsters and had acted in good faith in their participation in this event,” the statement added.
To remedy the situation, the University has offered a legitimate path to recognition. “As a gesture of goodwill, the University would therefore invite Dauda Kahutu Rarara and the others who believed they were receiving honorary degrees at the ceremony… to contact the University. Subject to their consent, the University will then examine their credentials via its Honorary Degrees Committee, and if these are found acceptable, they will then be able to receive a genuine honorary degree from European-American University at our forthcoming Nigerian convocation in November.”
Those named alongside Rarara include Alhaji Ahmed Saleh Jnr., Mustapha Abdullahi Bujawa, and Tarela Boroh.
The University emphasized that, unlike the fraudulent Abuja event, no money will be requested from the recipients. “In view of the reported actions of the fraudsters, it should be stated for clarity that no fee whatsoever will be required by the University in this process,” the statement clarified.
The EAU also directed the affected individuals to reach out to its Nigeria representative, Professor Luke Okojie, or the University’s Registry for further engagement.