N5.7bn School Project Scandal: Court Grants EFCC Order to Detain Sujimoto CEO
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, over allegations of failing to execute a ₦5.7 billion contract awarded to his company.
Ogundele is under investigation for allegedly abandoning the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools in Enugu State, despite reportedly receiving a 50 percent mobilization fee from the state government.
According to the EFCC, Ogundele ignored repeated invitations for questioning and was declared wanted on September 5. He later surrendered but maintained his innocence in a social media post, claiming the contract was underpriced and inflation hindered its execution.
The Enugu State government, however, accused him of absconding after collecting ₦5,762,565,475.25, which was meant to fast-track the six-month project. Officials alleged that work done at the sites was substandard, structurally defective, and far below contractual specifications.
“Rather than deliver as agreed, Mr. Ogundele resorted to shoddy jobs and abandoned the sites. He refused to attend project briefings or respond to calls and messages from the state government,” the government said in its petition to the EFCC.
A joint inspection by the EFCC and state officials in May 2025 revealed little to no significant progress at most of the sites, many of which were still at foundation level more than a year after the contract was awarded. The state has since revoked Ogundele’s contract and reassigned the projects to new contractors, some of whom have already completed similar schools.
Meanwhile, the EFCC, which had earlier frozen Sujimoto’s company accounts, confirmed it is making progress in its probe. An EFCC source told Vanguard that Ogundele will be interfacing with Enugu State officials next week to account for the funds or refund the money.
“He is expected to explain how the ₦5.7 billion was spent or return it. His case looks straightforward,” the source added.
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