ENUGU, Nigeria — The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, chief executive of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of defrauding the state of nearly ₦6 billion meant for the construction of 22 “Smart Green Schools,” projects that officials said were abandoned in their infancy.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 5, 2025, Malachy Agbo, the commissioner for information and communication, said Mr. Ogundele “vanished into thin air” after receiving an advance payment of ₦5.76 billion — half of the contract sum — leaving behind half-dug foundations and shoddy blockwork.
“For the avoidance of doubt, on July 2, 2024, the Enugu State Government awarded a contract in the sum of ₦11,457,930,950.52 to Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd for the construction of 22 Smart Schools in six months,” Dr. Agbo said.
“Rather than play to the rules of the contract, Mr. Ogundele resorted to shoddy jobs and abandoned the sites.”
According to the commissioner, Sujimoto presented a performance bond from Jaiz Bank to secure the award but arranged for payments to be made into a Zenith Bank account controlled by the company.
“This clearly shows a premeditated intent to defraud the state ab initio,” the statement said, noting that the move effectively shielded Jaiz Bank from liability.
Investigators from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), working alongside state engineers, visited the 22 project sites in May.
Their findings, officials said, confirmed “minimal to no significant work done one year after the contract award.”
In some cases, excavation had not even been carried out.
Ogundele, popularly known in Lagos society circles for his luxury high-rise projects, has not responded to government calls or attended periodic contractor briefings, officials said.
He has also ignored messages from law enforcement.
The state has since reassigned the projects to new contractors.
Pictures released by the government and EFCC show sites stalled at foundation level, with weeds overtaking some locations.
Despite the setback, Dr. Agbo said the administration of Governor Peter Mbah remained committed to delivering the Smart Green Schools by September 2025.
“It is equally noteworthy that other firms awarded multiple school projects are delivering quality jobs on target,” he said.
The commissioner dismissed Ogundele’s recent public statements as “theatrics and crocodile tears,” vowing that the state “will surely recover every penny of Ndi Enugu fraudulently obtained.”
The accusations mark a dramatic reversal for Sujimoto, a firm that has styled itself as Nigeria’s foremost developer of luxury towers in Lagos and Abuja.
Known for opulent branding and high-profile clients, Ogundele has cultivated an image of success.
The Enugu government’s allegations — now before the EFCC — paint a starkly different picture.
