Nigerian Woman Sentenced to 6 Years in Canada for $755,000 Daycare Fraud

A Canadian court has sentenced Nigerian national Ivon Beatrice Okafor to six years in federal prison for defrauding four licensed daycare centers of about $755,000.

Okafor was convicted of orchestrating a scheme that caused significant financial losses to the childcare facilities, according to court findings. Prosecutors said she targeted licensed centers and misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In delivering the sentence, the court said the scale of the fraud and its impact on the institutions warranted a substantial custodial term.

The court also ordered measures to recover proceeds linked to the fraud, in line with Canadian law.

The case has drawn attention in Canada and among Nigerian communities, underscoring concerns about financial crime and accountability regardless of nationality.

Authorities said additional details on the methods used and any restitution orders will be released later.