The recovery is nearly a year after the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Olasijibomi Ogundele, was accused of defrauding the state of close to ₦6 billion meant for the construction of Smart Green Schools.
The Enugu State government has recovered ₦1.27billion from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited following the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The recovery is nearly a year after the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Olasijibomi Ogundele, was accused of defrauding the state of close to ₦6 billion meant for the construction of Smart Green Schools.
The recovered sum was formally handed over to the state by the EFCC in the form of cheques, on Wednesday, with the anti-graft agency assuring the government that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining funds allegedly misappropriated by the contractor.
A video SaharaReporters obtained shows the EFCC's officials handing over the cheques to the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia in his office.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported on September 5, 2025, that the Enugu State government accused Ogundele of a “premeditated fraud” after he allegedly disappeared shortly after receiving a mobilisation payment for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, the state government provided further details of the contract and the circumstances that led to the EFCC’s involvement.
According to the statement, the Enugu State Government on July 2, 2024, awarded Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited a contract worth ₦11,457,930,950.52 for the construction of 22 Smart Green School buildings, with a completion timeline of six months from the date of acceptance.
To fast-track the projects, the government paid ₦5,762,565,475.25—representing 50 per cent of the contract sum—as mobilisation.
However, the government alleged that instead of delivering quality work in line with contractual specifications, Ogundele deployed inexperienced workers and “quack engineers,” resulting in substandard construction across the sites.
“None of his sites met the structural integrity of the projects as specified in the structural drawings,” the statement said, adding that in some locations, excavation was not carried out for all the blocks.
The situation reportedly worsened when Ogundele allegedly abandoned the sites and became unreachable, ignoring invitations to project review meetings and failing to respond to calls and messages from the state government.
Left with no alternative, the Enugu State Government petitioned the EFCC to recover the funds already paid.
A joint inspection carried out by officials of the Enugu State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the EFCC on May 8 and 9, 2025, across all 22 sites reportedly confirmed that there had been “minimal to no significant work done” nearly one year after the contract was awarded.
The government further alleged that investigations revealed a deliberate attempt to evade financial accountability. Although Sujimoto presented a performance bond issued by Jaiz Bank, the contract funds were paid into the company’s Zenith Bank account registered with the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
“This made it impossible for the state to hold Jaiz Bank liable and clearly shows a premeditated intent to defraud the state ab initio,” the statement noted.
Following the alleged breach, the state government said it had repossessed all the project sites and reassigned them to new contractors, who were compelled to restart construction from scratch.
The government claimed that “tremendous progress” has since been made to ensure that the Smart Green Schools initiative remains on track for the September school resumption.
The EFCC had earlier declared Ogundele wanted over allegations of fraud and money laundering connected to the project.
Reaffirming its stance, the Enugu State Government said it remains resolute in recovering all funds allegedly taken by the contractor.
“Nigerians should disregard his theatrics and crocodile tears,” the statement said. “The Enugu State Government is determined and will surely recover every penny of Ndi Enugu fraudulently obtained by Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele (Sujimoto).”
The EFCC, according to the state, has assured that further recoveries are underway as investigations continue.
WATCH: Enugu Government Receives ₦1.27billion Recovered From Sujimoto Firm By EFCC pic.twitter.com/bPRWAtIinX
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