London, UK – A 71-year-old Nigerian grandmother, Janet Olufunke Damiro, has been reinstated to her cleaning job at the London School of Economics (LSE) after a contentious dismissal over a “misplaced bracelet.”
The decision follows a strong campaign of support from colleagues and students, and a recent appeal hearing.
Ms. Damiro, who has worked at LSE for 13 years, was sacked for gross misconduct at the end of April 2025. The university accused her of stealing a gold bracelet she found during a shift.
However, Ms. Damiro maintained it was an “innocent case of forgetfulness,” explaining she placed the bracelet in her purse for safekeeping and then forgot about it. Upon being questioned by university management about the lost item, she immediately returned it.
Despite her profuse apologies, the grandmother, who immigrated to the UK from Nigeria in 1971, was suspended and subsequently dismissed. “I can’t sleep. I have never had a bad record or been to HR before in my life,” Ms. Damiro told reporters at the time, expressing her distress and worry about losing her only job and income. “LSE have treated me really badly… I did not steal this thing. If I see any items, I always hand them over.”
Her union, United Voices of the World (UVW), vigorously defended her, calling the accusation of theft “ludicrous and absurd.”
A UVW spokesperson highlighted the disproportionate level of scrutiny applied to Ms. Damiro given her cooperation, honesty, and unblemished track record.
The case garnered significant attention and an outpouring of support for Ms. Damiro. Over 70 of her colleagues, including three supervisors, penned a letter to LSE management vouching for her character, stating she “always conducted herself with integrity and consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic.”
LSE students also rallied to her cause, launching a petition demanding her reinstatement. The petition argued it was “deeply disturbing that LSE would seek such sweeping punishment for a minor mistake.”While a dramatic appeal hearing on May 22 was initially postponed, recent reports indicate that the ongoing pressure and the merits of Ms. Damiro’s case ultimately led to a favorable outcome.
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The LSE, which had previously declined to comment due to the ongoing nature of the case, has now reversed its decision to dismiss her, allowing the dedicated cleaner to return to her long-held position.The reinstatement brings relief to Ms. Damiro, who had spoken of being “broken” by the dismissal and worried about her ability to pay rent and make ends meet.
Her case serves as a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of due process, especially for vulnerable workers.
