By John Umeh
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order to detain Sijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, over an alleged ₦5.7 billion fraud linked to the failed construction of 22 Smart Green Schools in Enugu State.
According to EFCC sources, the remand order was obtained from a magistrate court to allow investigators complete their probe. The agency had earlier frozen Ogundele’s personal and corporate bank accounts as well as seized his international passport.
“He is expected to account for how the ₦5.7 billion was spent or return the funds,” a senior EFCC officer said.
The anti-graft agency had declared Ogundele wanted in late August for alleged money laundering and diversion of public funds.
Ogundele Denies Fraud Allegation
In response, the embattled real estate developer took to social media, describing the case as a “contract misunderstanding” with the Enugu State Government rather than criminal fraud.
“I am not a thief. I am not a fugitive,” he wrote, insisting he invested heavily in the projects. Ogundele explained that he mobilized engineers, relocated to Enugu, and even suffered a serious injury during the process.
He added that the government had initially engaged him for a 69-storey skyscraper project but later redirected him to school construction. According to him, he was assured that while the schools might not be profitable, other projects would balance the costs.
Enugu State’s Position
The Enugu State Government, however, strongly disputes Ogundele’s claims. Officials allege that after receiving **₦5.7 billion—representing 50% mobilization fee—**the contractor abandoned the sites and delivered only substandard, incomplete work.
In a statement, the state said:
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Most of the 22 sites showed little or no progress despite six months given for delivery.
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Work done by Sujimoto reportedly failed structural integrity tests.
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Ogundele allegedly ignored government meetings, calls, and messages, effectively disappearing after mobilization.
A joint inspection by the EFCC and the Enugu Ministry of Works in May 2025 reportedly confirmed minimal progress across all sites. The government has since revoked Sujimoto’s contracts and reassigned them to other firms, some of which are already on schedule.
What Next?
The EFCC says Ogundele will remain in custody pending completion of its investigation. If indicted, he may face charges ranging from money laundering to criminal breach of trust.
Meanwhile, the case has sparked heated debate in Nigeria’s construction and real estate sector, with some defending Ogundele’s reputation as a luxury developer, while others accuse him of overpromising and underdelivering on public projects.
For now, the question remains whether Ogundele can justify how the multi-billion-naira allocation was used—or face the full weight of the law.
