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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain Sijibomi Ogundele, the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, in connection with an alleged N5.7 billion unexecuted contract.
Ogundele is under investigation by the Commission for purportedly failing to execute 22 Smart Green School projects in Enugu State, following the reported payment of N5.7 billion by the state government to his company.
The Commission is currently interrogating Ogundele, who is in detention, to determine how he expended the funds without fulfilling the contract, as claimed by the Enugu State government.
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Furthermore, there were signs that the EFCC would pursue a court order to confiscate funds in Ogundele’s personal and corporate accounts, which had already been blocked.
A source from the EFCC stated that a remand order was obtained from a Magistrate Court to keep him until the anti-corruption agency completes its investigation.
The Commission previously froze Ogundele’s personal accounts and those of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, and confiscated his international passport to limit his movement pending the conclusion of investigations into the purported contract fraud.
The source indicated that evidence exists demonstrating that the specified amount was disbursed to Ogundele, and noted that the EFCC also possesses the contract terms and documentation evidencing his noncompliance with the contractual obligations.
He is anticipated to elucidate the expenditure of the N5.7 billion or reimburse the funds. The EFCC source stated, “His case appears uncomplicated.”
The source stated that Ogundele’s accounts were frozen to prepare for a potential court request for the forfeiture of the funds as the investigation progresses.
An EFCC source revealed that, starting next week, Sujimoto CEO Ogundele will engage with senior officials of the Enugu State Government as part of the ongoing investigation.
The EFCC proclaimed Ogundele sought the Friday before last for purported money laundering.
Ogundele promptly took to X to attribute the EFCC’s actions to the Enugu State Government.
He stated that the contract was undervalued and also referenced inflation as a factor hindering project completion.
In response to Ogundele’s assertions, the Enugu State government accused the CEO of Sujimoto of vanishing after receiving N5.7 billion as a 50 percent mobilisation fee for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools, due for completion by February 2025.
The Enugu State Government disbursed N5,762,565,475.25, being 50 percent of the contract amount, to expedite the projects at all locations.
“Instead of adhering to the contractual stipulations, Mr. Ogundele engaged in substandard work and employed unqualified labourers and fraudulent engineers.”
None of the minor tasks performed on his sites adhered to the structural integrity requirements outlined in the structural drawings.
“Moreover, he disappeared without a trace along with the funds.” All governmental attempts to convene him for a roundtable discussion regarding the quality and progress of work were unsuccessful.
He similarly declined to participate in the regular project briefings organised by the state government for all contractors and ignored multiple calls and messages directed to him.
He essentially deserted the sites, compelling the Enugu State Government to solicit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the recovery of the cash disbursed to him.
A collaborative team from the Enugu State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the EFCC assessed the 22 sites on May 8 and 9, 2025, determining that there had been negligible to no substantial progress one year post-contract award.
In certain instances, he deceitfully failed to do excavation for all the blocks on the site. It is documented that he has neither appeared at the locations nor made himself accessible to the state government or law enforcement organisations.
The government has subsequently reclaimed and transferred the properties to new companies, which are compelled to commence building anew. It is also significant that several organisations received numerous Smart Green School project awards and are executing quality work on schedule.
Images accompanying the Enugu State government’s answer indicated that the project sites were predominantly at the foundation and damp proof course stages, with a minority in the block work phase.
The government revealed that numerous other contractors had finalised comparable projects.
Benneth Nwatu, MD/CEO of Ever Progressive Integrated Resources Venture, a contractor engaged in the Smart Green School project, stated, “Our company has completed multiple projects here.”
“For instance, we managed the Smart Green School located in Ugwuomu Nike, the facility at Queens School, and an additional one in Inyi, Oji River.”
The governor is pleased when individuals demonstrate capability.
“Upon the completion of the project at Queens School within six months, the government generously awarded us additional contracts.” The projects we are managing in Ekulu Girls and Iva Valley are nearly finished.