A Canadian court has sentenced a Nigerian woman, Ivon Beatrice Okafor, to six years in federal prison after finding her guilty of defrauding four licensed daycare centres of approximately $755,000.
According to court records, Okafor, who worked as a bookkeeper for the childcare facilities, orchestrated a sophisticated fraud scheme over several years by diverting funds intended for daycare operations into accounts under her control. The stolen money reportedly included government childcare subsidies and payments made by parents.
Investigators revealed that the fraud involved the falsification of financial records and manipulation of accounting systems to conceal unauthorized transactions. The scheme remained undetected for an extended period before discrepancies in the centres’ financial statements prompted a detailed review and subsequent investigation.
Law enforcement authorities launched a probe after daycare operators reported suspicious financial activities. The investigation uncovered evidence linking Okafor to the misappropriation of approximately $755,000 from four separate childcare centres.
Following her arrest and prosecution, the court convicted Okafor on multiple fraud-related charges. In delivering the sentence, the judge described the offence as a serious breach of trust, noting that the stolen funds were intended to support childcare services and the welfare of children and families.
In addition to the six-year prison sentence, the court ordered restitution measures aimed at compensating the affected daycare centres for their financial losses.
