Ex-worker, students defraud Achievers University of N457m

Achievers University has uncovered a N457.5 million tuition fraud allegedly perpetrated by a former female staff member in collaboration with some students and staff of the institution.

The university disclosed that the fraud was uncovered after the completion of a Students’ Fees Payment Audit Exercise conducted across the 2023/2024, 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

In a statement issued on Monday by Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, the acting vice-chancellor said investigations revealed that 320 students paid their school fees into the personal account of the former bursary staff member instead of the university’s official account.

According to the institution, the ex-worker, an alumnus of the university’s Department of Accounting who resigned in April 2025, allegedly hacked into the institution’s payment portal and fraudulently cleared the affected students after receiving payments.

The university said the students were allegedly lured with promises of discounted fees and commissions.

“The fraudulent activities affected three academic sessions and 320 students paid a total sum of N457,508,645 into the personal account of the said lady, who in turn fraudulently cleared such students on the portal without the university receiving the money,” the statement said.

The institution further disclosed that 11 staff members, 34 students and one external collaborator working at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, were implicated as agents who recruited students into the scheme.

The university said all indicted students and staff members would face disciplinary panels, while the former employee is currently under police investigation for possible prosecution.

Prof. Aremu added that the audit exercise would continue as the university intensifies efforts to ensure transparency and prevent future financial fraud within the institution.