A 71-year-old Nigerian grandmother, Janet Olufunke Damiro, has been dismissed from her cleaning job at the London School of Economics (LSE) after being accused of stealing a gold bracelet. The incident has sparked outrage among staff, students, and trade unions, with many calling the university’s action unjust and heavy-handed.
According to a report by Metro UK, Damiro found the bracelet during her cleaning shift and placed it in her purse, intending to hand it over later. She returned it three days later when approached by management. Despite her explanation, the university suspended and later dismissed her in April for what it called gross misconduct.
Damiro, who moved from Nigeria to the United Kingdom in 1971, said she had worked at LSE for 13 years without any previous disciplinary issues.
“I can’t sleep. I have never had a bad record or been to HR before in my life,” she told Metro. “LSE have treated me really badly. It was my only job, and I loved working there. I did not steal this thing. I just forgot. At my age, you can forget like that.”
She added that the incident has left her mentally distressed and financially unstable. “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?” she asked.
More than 70 of her co-workers, including three supervisors, have signed a letter to LSE defending her honesty and work ethic. “Janet has always conducted herself with integrity and consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic,” the letter stated.
Her trade union, United Voices of the World (UVW), has appealed the dismissal and strongly criticised LSE for what they describe as an unfair and disproportionate response to a minor mistake.
“I don’t steal. I’m not a thief. I’ve worked at LSE for over 10 years without any problems. They look at me like I’m a thief. It’s unfair,” Damiro said in a statement shared by UVW.
The case has also drawn attention from LSE students, who launched a petition demanding her reinstatement. The petition describes the university’s action as “deeply disturbing” and calls the dismissal an overreaction to an honest mistake.
The London School of Economics has declined to make a public statement, citing the ongoing nature of the case. An appeal hearing originally set for May 22 was postponed, and a new date has been fixed for later in June.
LSE is one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious universities, with a large international community of students and staff. The case has sparked a wider debate over how migrant and older workers are treated in major institutions.
As pressure mounts from staff, unions, and students, many are waiting to see whether the university will reverse its decision in the upcoming appeal hearing. For Damiro, however, the emotional and financial damage may already be too deep.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve had a problem like this since I came to this country,” she said. “It is really bugging me.”
