ABUJA: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain Sijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, over an alleged N5.7 billion failed contract.
Ogundele is under investigation for allegedly abandoning a state-funded project to build 22 Smart Green Schools across Enugu State. According to investigators, the contractor received N5.76 billion, representing 50 percent of the contract sum, but failed to deliver on the agreement.
The Enugu State government, which awarded the contract in February 2025 with a six-month completion timeline, accused the Sujimoto boss of absconding after executing only substandard foundation works at some sites. It said repeated efforts to reach him, including calls, messages, and invitations to project briefings, were ignored.
“Rather than adhere to the rules of engagement, Mr. Ogundele resorted to shoddy work with inexperienced hands and quack engineers. None of the little work he did met structural specifications. He then vanished with the money,” the government alleged in a petition to the EFCC.
Officials said a joint inspection carried out in May 2025 by state engineers and EFCC operatives revealed minimal to no meaningful progress at the project sites. The government has since revoked the contract and reassigned the schools to other firms, many of whom are reportedly on track with their own projects.
Before surrendering himself to the EFCC, Ogundele defended his company on social media, claiming the contract was underpriced and inflation had crippled his ability to deliver.
The EFCC had earlier declared him wanted on September 5 after he failed to honour multiple invitations. His company’s accounts were also frozen to prevent diversion of funds.
Confirming the latest development, an EFCC said Ogundele would, in the coming days, face interrogation alongside top Enugu State officials.
“We have made significant progress. He is expected to explain how he spent the N5.7 billion or return the money. His case looks straightforward,” the source said, noting that detention was necessary to conclude investigations.
