The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of defrauding the state of N5.7 billion.
In a statement on Friday, the spokesperson of Governor Peter Mbah said the funds were paid for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools. The announcement followed the earlier declaration of Ogundele as wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the government, Ogundele allegedly received half of the contract sum but abandoned the sites. It said he used Sujimoto’s Zenith Bank account instead of the Jaiz Bank bond that secured the project, making recovery difficult.
The projects, expected to be completed by September 2025, were found largely untouched during a joint inspection by the Ministry of Works and EFCC officials. Some sites had no excavation or compliance with structural standards.
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The statement added that repeated attempts to reach Ogundele failed, while his actions pointed to premeditated fraud. It stressed that the state had reassigned the contracts and would ensure completion of the schools.
Officials emphasized that all misappropriated funds would be recovered in full. The government also reassured citizens that the Smart Green Schools initiative would remain on course despite the setback.
In response, Ogundele denied the fraud allegations in a video. He cited inflation, foreign exchange challenges, manpower shortages, and security issues as reasons for project delays.
He claimed Sujimoto mobilized 42 engineers and faced machinery problems. He also said disputes with the government resulted in legal action, but insisted he was still committed to delivering the schools.
