Disregard His Theatrics and Crocodile Tears, Enugu Govt Vows to Recover Every Kobo from Sujimoto CEO Ogundele

The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of defrauding the state of N5.7 billion meant for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools. The government described Ogundele’s conduct as “premeditated fraud,” alleging that he abandoned the project after receiving half of the contract sum and later attempted to mislead the public with what it called “crocodile tears” in a viral video.

In a statement issued on Friday, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, explained that Ogundele secured the contract with a bond presented from Jaiz Bank but diverted the payment into Sujimoto’s Zenith Bank account, which made it impossible for the state to hold the guarantor bank liable. The government awarded the contract in July 2024 for N11.4 billion and released 50 percent of the sum upfront to fast-track construction, but officials say the developer failed to deliver.

According to the government, inspections carried out with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in May 2025 revealed minimal work at most sites, with some locations showing no excavation at all. Officials said the work that was attempted fell far below structural requirements, and Ogundele subsequently disappeared, ignoring calls, messages, and project review meetings.

The EFCC has since declared Ogundele wanted for fraud and money laundering. While he has denied the allegations in a video and pledged to cooperate with investigators, the state government maintains that his actions showed deliberate intent to defraud. It has since reallocated the abandoned school sites to new contractors and said significant progress is now being made to meet the administration’s September deadline for the Smart Green Schools initiative.

The government urged Nigerians to dismiss Ogundele’s public appeals and reaffirmed its resolve to recover what it called every kobo fraudulently taken from the people of Enugu.