Enugu Govt Accuses Sujimoto CEO of N5.7bn Fraud Over School Projects; Ogundele Blames Economic Woes
ENUGU, NIGERIA – September 6, 2025 – The Enugu State Government has leveled serious allegations of fraud against high-profile real estate developer Olasijibomi Ogundele, the CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, accusing him of absconding with N5.7 billion paid for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.
In a strongly-worded statement issued Friday by the spokesperson for Governor Peter Mbah, the government claimed that Ogundele vanished after receiving a 50% mobilization fee, leaving the crucial school projects largely abandoned. This public accusation comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had already declared Ogundele wanted for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.
The Government’s Case: Allegations of Fraud and Project Abandonment
The Enugu State Government detailed a series of claims against Ogundele, painting a picture of deliberate deception and contractual failure. The projects were scheduled to be completed within six months, in time for the September 2025 school resumption.
Key allegations from the state government include:
N5.7 Billion Payment: The sum was paid as a 50% advance for the contract to build 22 state-of-the-art schools.
Premeditated Fraud Allegation: The government claims Ogundele intentionally used the company’s Zenith Bank account to receive the payment, rather than the account linked to the performance bond issued by Jaiz Bank. This move allegedly made it impossible for the state to hold the guarantor bank liable for the non-performance.
Project Status: Investigations revealed minimal to no work at most of the 22 sites. A joint inspection team from the Enugu Ministry of Works and the EFCC visited the sites on May 8 and 9, 2025, and reportedly confirmed the lack of substantial progress and structural compliance.
Failed Engagement: All efforts by the state government to engage with Ogundele after the payment was made reportedly failed.
Ogundele’s Rebuttal: A Litany of Challenges
In a video statement released after the EFCC declared him wanted, Sijibomi Ogundele denied any wrongdoing and attributed the project delays to a host of severe challenges beyond his company’s control.
His defense points include:
Denial of Wrongdoing: He insisted that all project expenditures were transparent and that he remains committed to completing the work.
Economic Headwinds: He cited a difficult operating environment, including soaring material costs, high inflation, and foreign exchange volatility.
Operational Hurdles: Ogundele listed manpower shortages, major logistical hurdles, and security concerns as significant impediments to progress.
Efforts Made: He stated that he had mobilized 42 engineers for the project and admitted that the nature of the projects was outside his company’s previous experience.
EFCC Involvement and the Path Forward
The state government’s accusations are significantly amplified by the EFCC’s ongoing investigation and public declaration of Ogundele as a wanted person. This federal involvement adds another layer of legal jeopardy for the construction magnate.
Determined not to let the educational initiative fail, the Enugu State Government has announced that it has already reassigned the abandoned project sites to new contractors to restart construction immediately. The government concluded its statement with a firm vow to pursue all legal avenues to recover “every naira allegedly misappropriated by Ogundele.”
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