The Enugu State Government has recovered a total sum of ₦1.284 billion from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited following investigations into the alleged diversion of funds meant for the construction of Smart Green Schools in the state.
The recovery was made possible through the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which handed over bank drafts and cheques to the state government on Wednesday at its Enugu Zonal Office. The funds were recovered from Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd.
The money represents part of the funds earlier paid to the construction company for school projects that were either abandoned or not properly executed, according to the EFCC. The Smart Green Schools project is one of the flagship education initiatives of the Enugu State Government aimed at improving learning facilities and expanding access to quality education across the state.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the EFCC Zonal Director in Enugu, Mr. Daniel Ise, said the recovery followed a formal petition submitted by the Enugu State Government. He explained that the petition led the anti-graft agency to begin a detailed investigation into how the funds released for the projects were used.
Mr. Ise disclosed that the EFCC had so far recovered ₦1,234,350,000 through bank drafts and an additional ₦50 million, bringing the total amount recovered to ₦1,284,350,000. He said the funds were being returned to the state government as part of the EFCC’s responsibility to recover public money lost to financial crimes.
According to him, the success recorded so far was due to the commitment and professionalism of EFCC officers handling the case. He stressed that the handover of the money did not mean the case had been concluded.
“This does not mark the end of the case,” Ise said. “We will continue to look at every aspect of the petition to ensure that every kobo belonging to the Enugu State Government that is not accounted for is traced and recovered.”
He added that if the investigation establishes evidence of criminal conduct, the EFCC would not hesitate to prosecute those involved, in line with Nigerian law. He also warned contractors handling public projects to strictly follow existing laws and regulations, especially the Public Procurement Act.
The EFCC boss reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to work with state and federal governments to protect public funds. He noted that accountability in the execution of public contracts remains a key focus of the commission.
The Smart Green Schools project was introduced by the Enugu State Government as part of efforts to modernise public education. The plan includes building smart classrooms, improving digital learning, and creating a better learning environment for pupils and teachers. The project attracted public attention after reports emerged that some of the schools awarded to contractors were either abandoned or poorly executed despite full or substantial payments.
Receiving the cheques on behalf of the Enugu State Government, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, thanked the EFCC for what he described as its professionalism and determination. He said the commission remained focused on its job despite what he called distractions and public noise surrounding the case.
Prof. Onyia said the recovery of the funds showed the commitment of the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration to transparency and accountability in governance. He assured that the recovered money would be used for infrastructure projects that would directly benefit the people of Enugu State.
“When there was a clear gap between our intention to use taxpayers’ money for development and what we saw on the ground in terms of project delivery, we had no choice but to act,” Onyia said. “We approached the EFCC to help us recover the funds, and today marks the beginning of that recovery process.”
He explained that the state government had earlier taken legal steps against the contractor and also submitted a petition to the EFCC. According to him, this was done to ensure that due process was followed and to avoid legal challenges in the future.
The SSG noted that investigations into the matter were still ongoing and declined to comment on what the final outcome might be. However, he made it clear that the government would not shield any contractor found to have misused public funds.
He stressed that the Enugu State Government would continue to hold contractors accountable for every project awarded to them. He added that any contractor who fails to deliver value for money would face legal consequences based on the advice of the state’s legal team.
The recovery comes at a time when many state governments across Nigeria are facing public pressure to ensure proper use of limited resources. With rising costs and economic challenges, citizens are increasingly demanding transparency in the execution of government projects.
Anti-corruption efforts have also gained renewed attention, with agencies like the EFCC under pressure to demonstrate results through recoveries and prosecutions. The EFCC has repeatedly said that recovering stolen public funds and returning them to the rightful owners is a major part of its mandate.
For many residents of Enugu State, the recovery has raised hopes that stalled or abandoned school projects will now be completed. Education stakeholders have called on the government to ensure that the recovered funds are quickly reinvested to improve learning conditions for students.