Sujimoto boss Olasijibomi Ogundele accused of defrauding Enugu State in school development scheme

The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of defrauding the state of N5.7 billion paid for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Ogundele wanted for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering, escalating the controversy.

The state government says Ogundele disappeared after receiving 50% of the contract payment, leaving most of the school developments unfinished. It alleges that instead of using the bond issued by Jaiz Bank to secure the contract, Ogundele diverted payments through Sujimoto’s Zenith Bank account, which was registered with the state’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, making it impossible for the government to hold Jaiz Bank liable.

Investigations revealed minimal to no substantive progress at many of the project sites, with some lacking proper excavation and structural compliance. Attempts by the government to engage Ogundele through calls and meetings reportedly failed. The state also accused Ogundele of premeditated fraud, asserting that his misdirection of funds and abandonment of the sites demonstrated intent from the beginning. A joint team from the Enugu Ministry of Works and the EFCC inspected the sites in May 2025, confirming the lack of significant work.

Following the accusations, the government reassigned the projects to new contractors to restart construction and emphasized its commitment to ensuring the Smart Green Schools plan remains on track. It also vowed to recover every naira allegedly misappropriated by Ogundele.

In response, Ogundele released a video denying any fraud, attributing delays to economic challenges such as inflation, rising material costs, manpower shortages, and security issues. He claimed to have mobilized 42 engineers to oversee the projects but faced difficulties due to machinery problems and operational hurdles. Ogundele insisted that expenditures were transparent, and legal action resulted from disputes with the state government. He pledged to fulfill his commitments and address the allegations.

The Enugu State Government, however, dismissed Ogundele’s defense as theatrics, showing its determination to recover the funds and complete the educational projects for the benefit of the state’s children.