The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of defrauding the state of N5.7 billion in a failed school construction project.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, the state awarded Sujimoto a contract worth N11.4 billion in July 2024 for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools, expected to be completed within six months. To accelerate the project, the government released 50% of the contract sum N5.76 billion upfront.
However, officials say Mr. Ogundele abandoned the project after executing substandard work with unqualified workers. Inspections revealed that none of the sites met the required structural standards, with some showing no excavation work at all.
The commissioner noted that despite presenting a Jaiz Bank bond to secure the contract, Ogundele received the funds through Sujimoto’s Zenith Bank account, making it difficult to hold Jaiz Bank accountable an action the government described as evidence of premeditated fraud.
Efforts by the state to engage Ogundele reportedly failed, as he ignored calls, messages, and invitations to project briefings. Following this, the state petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A joint inspection by EFCC and the Ministry of Works in May 2025 confirmed minimal to no progress across the sites nearly a year after the contract award.
The government has since revoked Sujimoto’s contract, handed the projects to new contractors, and vowed to ensure that Enugu’s children resume in the Smart Green Schools by September 2025.
Dr. Agbo stressed that every kobo would be recovered, urging the public to disregard Ogundele’s “theatrics and crocodile tears,” while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to accountability.
Would you like me to make this rewrite more neutral and journalistic (like a newspaper report) or more sharp and hard-hitting (like an exposé)?
