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Fraud

EFCC Secures Court Order to Detain CEO Over Abandoned Smart Green School Projects

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain Sijibomi Ogundele, the CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, in connection with allegations that his company failed to deliver 22 Smart Green School projects in Enugu State. The company was paid over N5.7 billion by the state government for the projects but allegedly abandoned the sites, leaving most of them incomplete. According to the EFCC, Ogundele's company received 50% of the contract sum but failed to meet contractual obligations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EFCC has secured a court order to detain Sijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, over allegations of failing to deliver 22 Smart Green School projects in Enugu State.
  • Ogundele's company was paid over N5.7 billion for the projects but allegedly abandoned the sites, leaving most of them incomplete.
  • The EFCC has frozen Ogundele's personal accounts and those of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, and seized his international passport to restrict his movement.
  • Ogundele claims that the project delays were due to economic challenges, including rising material costs and inflation, but the Enugu State Government alleges that he used inexperienced workers and quack engineers.
  • A joint inspection by EFCC operatives and state officials in May 2025 revealed minimal progress at the sites, with many left at foundation level.
  • Ogundele has denied allegations of fraud and claims that his company deployed 42 engineers to work on the projects.
  • The EFCC is investigating how Ogundele spent the N5.7 billion and expects him to explain or refund the money.
  • The Enugu State Government has accused Ogundele of abandoning the projects and has retaken the sites to award new contracts to other firms that will start construction from scratch.

Statistics:

  • N5.7 billion: The amount paid by the Enugu State Government to Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited for the Smart Green School projects.
  • 50%: The percentage of the contract sum received by Ogundele's company.
  • 22: The number of Smart Green School projects allegedly abandoned by Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited.
  • May 2025: The month when a joint inspection by EFCC operatives and state officials revealed minimal progress at the sites.
  • 42: The number of engineers claimed to have been deployed by Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited to work on the projects.

Sources:

  • [EFCC obtains court order to detain CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited over abandoned Smart Green School projects] (EFCC press release, no date mentioned)
  • [Enugu State Government accuses Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited of abandoning Smart Green School projects] (Enugu State Government press release, no date mentioned)
  • [Sijibomi Ogundele denies allegations of fraud and claims that project delays were due to economic challenges] (social media post by Sijibomi Ogundele, no date mentioned)
  • [Joint inspection by EFCC operatives and state officials reveals minimal progress at Smart Green School project sites] (press report by Vanguard Newspaper, May 2025)

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