The Enugu State Government has leveled serious fraud allegations against Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, accusing him of diverting N5.76 billion meant for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.
According to the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, the contract—worth N11.46 billion—was awarded to Sujimoto on July 2, 2024. The government released N5.76 billion upfront, representing 50 percent of the contract sum, to fast-track the project. But despite the huge disbursement, Agbo alleged that Ogundele abandoned the sites, employed inexperienced workers, and delivered substandard work that fell short of contractual specifications.
“Instead of delivering quality projects that would be furnished and equipped ahead of September 2025 resumption, Mr. Ogundele resorted to shoddy jobs, using quack engineers and inexperienced workers,” Agbo said, adding that none of the schools inspected met the required structural standards.
The commissioner noted that all efforts to reach Ogundele proved futile, as he allegedly ignored calls, messages, and invitations to progress briefings. Furthermore, a joint inspection carried out by the state Ministry of Works and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 8–9, 2025, reportedly revealed “minimal to no significant work” on the sites, with no excavation carried out nearly a year after the award of the contract.
Agbo alleged that the payment, received through Sujimoto’s corporate account, was never deployed for its intended purpose, suggesting a deliberate plan to defraud the state. Consequently, the government has reassigned the projects to new contractors to ensure their completion before schools reopen in September 2025.
Meanwhile, a video released on Friday showed Ogundele denying the allegations and pledging to clear his name. But the Enugu State Government dismissed his remarks as theatrics, describing them as “crocodile tears.”
“Enugu State Government is resolute and will recover every kobo fraudulently obtained by Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele,” Agbo declared.
