Ex-Achievers University Worker, 320 Students Caught in Major School Fees Fraud

Achievers University disclosed a major fraud scheme on May 25, 2024, involving a former bursary staff member and 320 students who collectively paid N457,508,645 into a private account instead of the university’s official portal. The fraud, uncovered during an audit covering the 2023/2024, 2024/2025, and 2025/2026 academic sessions, allegedly involved the suspect manipulating payment records to show students as financially cleared. The university’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, stated the ex-worker convinced students to pay fees into her personal account by falsely promising discounts and commissions. Investigations revealed 11 staff members, 34 students, and an individual from the Federal Medical Centre were involved in recruiting students for the scheme. The suspect also allegedly tampered with the university’s payment system to conceal the fraud. All implicated students will appear before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee, while staff members face the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee. The university confirmed the audit will extend to review fee payments from graduates of the last two academic sessions. Police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh confirmed the main suspect had been arrested, with investigations ongoing. The fraud follows previous warnings from Achievers University against social vices, including expulsions for video-related offences, fraud, drug abuse, and misconduct. The university urged students to use social media responsibly to avoid damaging their futures. Meanwhile, the case highlights systemic risks in digital payment systems within Nigerian higher education institutions.