The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele, the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, over an alleged N5.7 billion fraud linked to abandoned school construction projects in Enugu State.
Ogundele, a high-profile luxury real estate developer, is being investigated for receiving N5.76 billion from the Enugu State Government for the construction of 22 “Smart Green Schools” but allegedly failed to deliver on the contract. The money, representing 50% of the total contract sum, was meant as a mobilization fee to fast-track the projects.
According to EFCC sources, the anti-graft agency secured a remand order from a magistrate court to detain Ogundele while investigations continue. His personal and company accounts have been frozen, and his international passport has also been seized.
“There is clear evidence of the funds paid to him and documents showing he didn’t carry out the job as agreed,” a source at the EFCC stated. “He must explain how the money was spent or return it.”
The EFCC is also reportedly planning to approach the court to seize the funds in his frozen accounts, which investigators allege were partly diverted to finance luxury real estate projects in Lagos.
The Enugu State Government responded strongly to Ogundele’s claims on social media that the contract was underpriced and that inflation was to blame for delays. The government described these as excuses and accused him of gross negligence and abandonment of the project.
In an official statement, the state revealed that Ogundele received exactly N5,762,565,475.25 in February 2025 as 50% of the total contract sum to build 22 schools within six months. However, he allegedly vanished after receiving the funds and failed to attend scheduled project briefings or respond to calls and messages.
“Instead of following the terms of the contract, Mr. Ogundele used unqualified workers and did substandard work,” the government said. “Many of the sites were either abandoned or left at the foundation level. Some had no significant work done at all.”
A joint inspection by officials from the Enugu State Ministry of Works and EFCC operatives in May 2025 confirmed that the project sites were mostly empty or barely past the foundation level, despite the huge amount already paid.
The government said it had no choice but to petition the EFCC when all efforts to reach Ogundele failed. The sites have now been handed over to new contractors to start afresh.
Contrary to Sujimoto’s claim that the project pricing was unrealistic, several other contractors who received similar school projects have completed or are nearing completion of their work. These include Intasog, Testimony Enterprises, Albond Limited, CDV Properties, and Ever Progressive Integrated Resources Venture.
For example, Benneth Nwatu, CEO of Ever Progressive, confirmed that his company has already completed three Smart Green Schools and is close to finishing others. He praised the Enugu State Government for adjusting contract prices in response to inflation and ensuring that contractors had enough support to succeed.
“When we completed the project at Queens School within the timeline, the government gave us more jobs,” Nwatu said. “Now we are working at Ekulu Girls and Iva Valley, and they are almost done.”
This is not the first time Ogundele has come under public scrutiny. On Friday, two weeks ago, the EFCC declared him wanted for alleged money laundering after he failed to honour repeated invitations.
Shortly after the declaration, Ogundele took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to blame the Enugu State Government for what he called “contract underpricing,” citing inflation and harsh economic conditions as obstacles. However, the government dismissed these excuses, pointing to the success of other contractors working under similar conditions.
The EFCC has now confirmed that Ogundele will, from next week, begin interfacing with top officials of the Enugu State Government as part of the ongoing investigation. He is expected to account for how the N5.7 billion was spent, or face possible charges for fraud and contract breach.
The Smart Green Schools initiative is a key part of Enugu State’s education reform plan. The aim is to build modern, technology-enabled learning environments across the state. Each school is designed to include digital classrooms, renewable energy systems, and high-quality infrastructure to provide 21st-century education.
With the 22 schools under Sujimoto now re-awarded to other contractors, the state government insists it remains committed to delivering the projects and holding non-performing contractors accountable.
