$755,000 Daycare Fraud: Nigerian Woman, Ivon Beatrice Okafor Bags Six-Year Jail Sentence in Canada

A Canadian court on Monday, June 22,  sentenced Ivon Beatrice Okafor, a Nigerian woman, to six years in prison for defrauding the owners of four licensed daycare centres of about $755,000.

Okafor, who worked as a bookkeeper in the Greater Toronto Area, was found guilty of fraud, theft and forgery after diverting government childcare subsidies and parent’s fees into her personal account over a three-year period.

Investigators said she concealed the fraud by creating fake reconciled financial statements until one of the daycare owners detected discrepancies in the accounts, prompting an investigation by the Toronto Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Authorities said Okafor fled to Lagos before criminal charges were filed against her. She was later arrested following the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice and extradited to Canada to stand trial.

The court convicted her on multiple counts of fraud, theft and forgery before sentencing her to six years in federal prison. The court also ordered her to make full restitution to the victims.