Court stops Maryam Abacha University from enforcing N750,000 convocation fee

Court

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.