Outrage as 71-Year-Old Nigerian Grandmother Sacked by UK Varsity Over ‘Forgotten’ Bracelet

A 71-year-old Nigerian grandmother, Janet Olufunke Damiro, has been dismissed from her cleaning job at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE) after being accused of stealing a misplaced bracelet — a claim she firmly denies.

According to an exclusive report by Metro UK, Damiro, who has lived in the UK since 1971 and worked at LSE for over 13 years, said she unintentionally kept the gold bracelet in her purse after finding it during her shift and had planned to return it later. She eventually handed it in three days after the incident, but despite her explanation, she was suspended and then sacked in April for “gross misconduct.”

“I can’t sleep. I have never had a bad record or been to HR before in my life,” Damiro told Metro. “I did not steal this thing. If I see any items, I always hand them over. This is the first time in my life I have had a problem like this since I came to this country.”

Her dismissal has sparked widespread support, with more than 70 of her colleagues, including three supervisors, writing to LSE management defending her honesty and professional conduct. “Janet has always conducted herself with integrity and consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic,” the letter stated.

Damiro’s union, United Voices of the World (UVW), has appealed her dismissal and slammed the university for its harsh handling of the situation. In a statement, UVW described the treatment as “disproportionate and unjust,” especially considering her spotless employment history.

“They look at me like I’m a thief. It’s unfair. I’ve not been myself at all. I don’t sleep at night. I don’t have a job now, but I have to pay my rent and bills. Who’s going to employ me at this age?” Damiro said in an interview on the union’s website.

Students at the university have also rallied to her support, launching a petition demanding her reinstatement. The petition described the dismissal as “deeply disturbing” and a “cruel punishment” for what they believe was an honest mistake.

An appeal hearing initially scheduled for May 22 was postponed, with a new date set for later in June. Meanwhile, LSE has declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the case.