A contractor with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Mrs Wuraola Williams, aka Iron Lady, who was alleged to have defrauded the state government of millions of naira, has gone into hiding.
The PUNCH learnt that the contractor’s telephone numbers had been switched off.
Her doctor was, however, arrested by the police from the Lion Building Division.
She allegedly fled while receiving treatment at the unnamed doctor’s hospital.
This newspaper had reported that hundreds of millions of naira were stolen from LAWMA by contractors who employed street sweepers and supervisors.
The contractors, many of whom are politicians, allegedly inflated the wage bills of the street sweepers and supervisors under them.
According to an official source, the Lagos State Government pays the contractors over N560m monthly as salaries for their workers.
However, an audit of the agency’s account revealed that a large chunk of the money was going to ghost workers and non-existent contractors.
Williams, one of the 650 operators, was reported to be controlling 66 of the 600 routes in the state.
She was alleged to have defrauded the government of about N46m monthly.
While speaking to our reporter through an aide two weeks ago, she claimed that her routes were clean which should be enough proof that she was delivering on her job.
She was one of several operators whose contracts were terminated, amidst calls for their prosecution.
Since last week, our correspondent had been making efforts to get her reaction to the development, but her telephone number was switched off.
One of her workers, who asked not to be identified, said she had fled her Lagos Island abode.
“She went with all her property; she fled Lagos Island overnight. All her phone numbers have been switched off. She now goes about in hijab so people will not spot her,” he added.
A contractor told The PUNCH that her doctor was arrested.
“I saw the doctor at the Lion Building Police Division and he said he did not know when she fled his hospital. The doctor’s family members were at the police station to take his bail,” the source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said he would call our correspondent back after speaking with the Lion Building Divisional Police Officer.
He had yet to do so as of press time.
