A Canadian court has sentenced a Nigerian woman, Ivon Beatrice Okafor, to six years in federal prison for defrauding four licensed daycare centres of approximately $755,000.

Okafor, who worked as a bookkeeper in the Greater Toronto Area, was convicted on multiple counts of fraud, theft and forgery after unlawfully diverting government childcare subsidies and parents’ payments into her personal bank account over a three-year period.

According to investigators, she concealed the scheme by preparing falsified financial records and forged bank reconciliation statements to hide the missing funds and evade detection. The fraud came to light after one of the daycare owners identified 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, Nigeria, before criminal charges were formally filed against her. However, following the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice, she was tracked down, arrested and extradited to Canada to stand trial.

After reviewing the evidence, the court found her guilty on several counts of fraud, theft and forgery. In addition to the six-year prison sentence, the court ordered her to make full restitution to the daycare operators who suffered financial losses as a result of the scheme.

The case underscores the determination of Canadian law enforcement agencies to pursue and prosecute financial crimes, even when suspects attempt to evade justice by leaving the country.