The Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) is under intense scrutiny by the anti-corruption agency over the ‘compulsory’ N750,000 graduation levy being demanded from graduating students.

The management of the private university in Kano is said to have tied the compulsory N750,000 to the issuance of final results, NYSC mobilisation letters, and other relevant documents due to graduating students, a development that prompted the intervention of the anti-graft agency.
Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has ordered the university to halt further demand and collection of the compulsory N750,000 from students pending investigation.

In a letter dated November 27, 2025, and signed by the anti-corruption Head of Operations, Salisu Saleh, the university was directed to maintain the status quo and refrain from withholding certificates or NYSC mobilisation letters from any student over non-payment.
The commission said in the letter that it was taking the decision in line with its powers under sections 9 and 15 of the PCACC Law 2008 (as amended, 2010), and to prevent actions that may compromise the investigation.

The commission acknowledged receiving a formal complaint regarding the imposition of the fee and concerns that students may be punished for resisting it.
Despite the directive of the anti-corruption agency, parents of the graduating students have lamented the outright disregard of the notice as ordered by the government agency, with the university instead threatening students to make payment or forfeit their results.

A parent of a graduating student who spoke on condition of anonymity raised concerns that the management of the university had shut doors and refused to entertain inquiries from parents.
Reacting to further complaints, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Saidu Yahya, affirmed the existing investigation on the matter while reassuring determination to ensure no party is short-changed.

The anti-corruption boss also disclosed that the university does not have the right to impose and compel students to make payment outside the statutory level.
According to him, “We have received complaints from parents of private universities in Kano, and the commission has moved in and we recovered the monies and returned them to parents. But in the case of MAAUN and the compulsory payment of N750,000 graduation fees, investigation is ongoing and we will get to the root of the matter.

“We have written to the university to stop such demand because we believe a university can charge even N10 million but on the condition that such an amount should not be tied to any condition or made compulsory.
“Our area of concern is, should the N750,000 be tied to the issuance of results and transcripts, that is a matter of concern and I can assure you that will not stand. But if the payment is optional, no problem; we would not have issues.

“So, we are monitoring the situation to find out if the school makes the N750,000 compulsory or compels any student whose parents cannot afford such amount. And if the reverse is the case, the commission will not take it easy with the university,” Yahya affirmed.
Efforts to seek reaction from the university management were not successful as the spokesperson, Ali Kakaki, was not available for response at the time of filing the report.