Enugu Govt Accuses Sujimoto CEO Of N6bn Fraud
The Enugu State Government has accused the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Olasijibomi Ogundele, of defrauding the state of nearly N6 billion meant for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools.
In a statement issued on Friday, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, described Ogundele’s recent claims against the government as “crocodile tears,” alleging that the developer disappeared after collecting N5.7 billion mobilisation fee.
According to Agbo, the N11.4 billion contract was awarded to Sujimoto on July 2, 2024, with a six-month completion timeline. Instead of delivering the projects, the company allegedly employed quack engineers, executed substandard work, and abandoned all sites without meeting basic structural standards.
“Worse still, he vanished into thin air with the money. He refused to honour project briefings, avoided calls and messages, and absconded from site inspections,” Agbo stated.
The government also alleged that Ogundele secured the contract with a performance bond from Jaiz Bank but diverted payments into a new generation bank account, shielding the guarantor from liability and proving “a premeditated intent to defraud.”
A joint inspection by the Ministry of Works and the EFCC in May 2025 reportedly confirmed that most sites were abandoned at foundation level, while a few only reached the damp-proof stage.
Following the findings, the government reassigned the projects to new contractors, with a September 2025 deadline for completion under the Smart Schools initiative.
Agbo urged the public to disregard Ogundele’s “antics,” insisting that every kobo would be recovered through EFCC and other legal measures.
“The Mbah administration remains resolute in delivering Smart Green Schools to Ndi Enugu. No amount of crocodile tears from Sujimoto will erase the fact that he defrauded the people,” he declared.
The government also released pictures from the inspection, showing the abandoned state of the projects.
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.
