Lagos State Government has withheld N25 million donated to amputee Mary Daniel following inconsistencies in her story.
Ms Daniel went viral after being seen hawking sachet water in Oshodi area of Lagos.
The Kogi native had told the public that she lost a leg in an accident that killed all passengers, including her parents, when she was a teenager.
She said she was forced to drop out of school and hit the streets to fend for herself, baby and aged grandmother.
Following a temporary shelter provided by the state government for her, it has been discovered that Daniel’s father is alive and her presence in Oshodi was staged.
It was gathered that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu immediately handed her over to social welfare officials for investigation following the discovery.
Mr Sanwo-Olu handed her over in the presence of the police and some Kogi leaders who confirmed her father was alive.
Daniel, it was further learnt, had been receiving strange calls from those who staged her story with threats to reveal the truth unless she gave them their share of the money.
“It was discovered that contrary to her claim that her parents died during an accident that left her amputated, it was discovered that her father is very much alive and that she was amputated from birth,” commissioner of police Hakeem Odumosu told The Nation.
“It was also discovered that her presence in Oshodi was staged. Those working with her played on the intelligence of Nigerians to get donations for her.
“It came to light when the people started threatening her. She promised some N500,000 others different amounts and was planning to return to her home state when the information leaked.
“I had to attach some policemen to her to prevent any attack on her when she went to the bank. We suspected those people might follow her but everything went well as they were not seen.
“Presently, the state government is preventing her from accessing the money.”
Mr Odumosu said the state government took the decision to deter others from following Daniel’s footsteps in manipulating the public.
Daniel recently celebrated her 27th birthday. She said she planned to open a supermarket with the funds raised by the public.
