Canadian Twins Accused of Deceptive Bid for Scholarships and Grants
A pair of Canadian twin sisters, Amira and Nadya Gill, aged 25, along with their mother, Karima Manji, have been charged with fraud for allegedly falsely claiming Inuit heritage to secure over $10,000 in scholarships and grants for their online face mask business.
The charges specify fraud amounts exceeding $5,000 for each of them. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the sisters purportedly told authorities that they were the biological daughters of an Inuit woman named Kitty Noah, whom Manji had adopted.
This fabricated identity enabled them to secure financial support for their business, which they promoted as Inuit-owned through local media outlets. The fraudulent activities span from 2016 to 2022.
Questionable Adoption Status and Exposed Deception
The legitimacy of the twins’ adoption status remains uncertain, leaving questions about their biological lineage. The alleged fraud came to light in March when the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) initiated an investigation into the claims made by the sisters.
Unfortunately, Kitty Noah, the Inuk woman they purported to be their birth mother, passed away in July this year. Before her death, she publicly refuted any connection to the twins, asserting that she had not given birth to them.
Noah’s son, Noah Noah, revealed that his mother was taken advantage of by Karima Manji, describing her astonishment at the twins’ claims. The NTI labeled this fraud as unprecedented in its history.
Local Business Endeavor and Upcoming Court Appearance
Following their college graduation, the twins embarked on a business venture selling face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They actively promoted their business within the local community, making appearances on the CTV Ottawa outlet.
All three women, Amira, Nadya, and Karima, are scheduled to appear in an Ottawa court next month to address the charges brought against them.
The allegations have provoked outrage within the Inuit community, with some members believing that Manji’s knowledge of their family stemmed from her past involvement with a family member.
Aluki Kotierk, the president of the NTI, expressed frustration over the attempted identity claim, emphasizing the importance of preserving Inuit language and culture.
As of now, neither the twins nor their mother have made any public statements regarding the allegations.
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