Court restrains MAAUN from enforcing N750,000 convocation fee

The Kano State High Court has restrained Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) from compelling its graduating students to pay a N750,000 convocation and graduation ceremony fee as a precondition for the issuance of statements of result, certificates, and mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji, who presided over the matter granted the order following an ex-parte application filed by counsel to the affected parents, Sagir Sulaiman Gezawa.

The court further ordered the university to immediately issue statements of result to the students and mobilise them for the NYSC once the NYSC portal is opened, without further delay.

The case was adjourned to January 13, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

In his application, Gezawa asked the court to determine whether, based on the admission letters issued to the students at the commencement of their studies, they had already fulfilled all obligations required for their graduation. 

He argued that the students, having paid their tuition fees, attended classes, completed all required courses, and passed their examinations, should not be subjected to additional conditions before graduating.

He also contended that it is part of the university’s responsibility to process students’ results and facilitate their mobilisation for the NYSC.

The dispute stems from MAAUN’s decision to impose a N750,000 fee for what it described as a convocation and graduation ceremony.

Parents initially protested that the fee was exorbitant, but tensions escalated when the university issued a circular making payment of the fee a prerequisite for the release of statements of result and NYSC mobilisation.

According to sources, efforts by parents to resolve the issue amicably were unsuccessful. 

A letter of protest was reportedly sent to the founder of the institution, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, seeking dialogue, but the parents claimed he became unreachable.

The situation worsened after another internal circular directed students to pay the disputed fee on or before November 30, warning that failure to do so would result in delays in graduation, NYSC mobilisation and issuance of statements of result.

The parents subsequently sought the intervention of the Emir of Kano, who delegated the Matawallen Kano to mediate, but the intervention did not yield results.

 A further appeal to the Deputy Governor of Kano State also failed, as the founder reportedly insisted that the university was not answerable to the state government.

The matter was later reported to the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), which ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the conclusion of its investigation.

Despite the PCACC’s directive, MAAUN issued another circular announcing December 20 as the date for the convocation, reiterating the requirement for payment of the N750,000 fee.

Subsequently, the university, through its counsel, Zahraddeen M. Bello, obtained a separate court order restraining the PCACC, the Kano State Government, the Kano State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Kano State and concerned parents from interfering in what it described as its internal and external affairs pending the determination of an originating summons. 

The court also directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante and adjourned that matter to December 24, 2025, for mention.

Meanwhile, a member of staff of the university, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the founder as a well-meaning individual, saying some parents had even benefited from tuition waivers

He said the founder was committed to maintaining high academic standards and had made attempts to engage with parents over the issue.

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