EFCC Quizzes Sujimoto CEO Over Alleged N5.7bn Enugu Smart Schools Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, in Abuja over an alleged diversion of N5.7bn meant for the construction of 22 Smart Schools in Enugu State.
Ogundele, who was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency, surrendered himself and was taken into custody on Monday for questioning that lasted more than ten hours.
His bank accounts and those of his company have been frozen, while his passport will also be seized to restrict his movement.
Enugu State Government had awarded Sujimoto an over N11bn contract, approving an initial 30 percent payment.
However, Ogundele reportedly pleaded for 50 percent, amounting to N5.7bn, which was paid.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr Malachy Agbo, explained that the payment represented half of the contract sum. But the state alleged that the actual worth of work executed so far was only about N750m.
A source in EFCC confirmed, “The Chief Executive of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited has surrendered to our commission and we immediately took him into custody. For more than 10 hours, we have been questioning him based on the petition of the Enugu State Government. We have frozen all his accounts and that of his company pending the conclusion of preliminary investigation. We will also seize his passport to restrict his movement to the country.”
Reacting in a trending video before his arrest, Ogundele said, “I’m not a thief. I’m not a fugitive. This is a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. The Enugu State Government asked me to help them build a couple of things, which was very interesting. I was going to the state every week. The problem is the increasing prices of building materials.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
