Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, has uncovered a large-scale tuition fraud involving staff and students who allegedly diverted over N457.5 million in school fees.

The institution said the fraud was revealed during a Students’ Fees Payment Audit Exercise concluded on Friday, which examined transactions across the 2023/2024, 2024/2025, and 2025/2026 academic sessions.

According to the university, a former female staff member in the bursary department allegedly hacked into the school’s payment portal and diverted fees paid by about 320 students into her personal accounts.

The school said the suspect, an alumnus later employed by the university, used discounted fee offers and commissions to lure students into paying outside official channels while still clearing their records on the school portal.

The audit also reportedly indicted 11 staff members, 34 students, and one external accomplice linked to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for acting as agents in the scheme.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, said all implicated students and staff would face disciplinary committees, while the principal suspect is currently under police investigation for prosecution.

The university added that further audits are ongoing to review payments made by graduating students over the past two sessions, pledging transparency in handling the case.