The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of allegedly defrauding the state of almost ₦6 billion earmarked for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools.
In a statement released on Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, claimed that Ogundele abandoned the projects after receiving half of the contract sum and failed to deliver quality work across the designated sites.
According to the government, on July 2, 2024, Sujimoto was awarded a contract valued at ₦11.45 billion for the development of 22 Smart Schools, with a six-month completion deadline. Out of this, ₦5.76 billion—representing 50 percent of the contract—was disbursed to accelerate progress.
“Rather than play to the rules of the contract to deliver quality projects for furnishing and equipping ahead of September 2025 school resumption, Mr. Ogundele resorted to shoddy jobs and the use of inexperienced workers and quack engineers. None of his sites met the structural integrity of the projects as specified in the structural drawing. Worse still, he vanished into thin air with the money,” the statement read.
The government said several attempts to contact Ogundele proved unsuccessful, prompting a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A joint inspection carried out by EFCC officials and state representatives in May 2025 reportedly showed little progress, with most sites left at the foundation stage.
Agbo further alleged that although Ogundele provided a Jaiz Bank bond to secure the contract, he diverted payments to a different Sujimoto account, which made it impossible for the government to hold Jaiz Bank liable. He described this move as “a premeditated intent to defraud the state.”
The projects have since been reassigned to other contractors, with assurances that the schools will be ready by September 2025. “Nigerians should therefore disregard his theatrics and crocodile tears. Enugu State Government will surely recover every penny of Ndi Enugu fraudulently obtained by Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele,” the statement concluded.
Ogundele’s Response
In a video message shared online, Ogundele denied the allegations, pledging to defend himself before the EFCC.
“I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This is a contract between my company and Enugu State Government. In the middle of the project, the governor said he wanted to build a city and the tallest building in Nigeria. Now they declared me wanted and destroyed my company that I built. I am going to the EFCC office to clear my name,” he said, attributing the contract challenges to inflation and delays.
The EFCC has since declared Ogundele wanted. In a notice signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, the commission urged the public to provide any useful information on his location.
The notice stated: “Olasijibomi Ogundele of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of diversion of funds and money laundering. Anybody with useful information should please contact the Commission or the nearest police station.”
Although the EFCC did not specify the exact sum involved, it confirmed that Ogundele is being investigated for serious financial crimes.