Enugu Gov Peter Mbah Says Sujimoto Has Started Refunding N5.7Billion For Abandoned Smart School Project

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has announced that Sujimoto Luxury Construction Company Limited, owned by Olasijibomi Ogundele, has commenced refunding the N5.7 billion paid to them for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools in the state.

The governor made this disclosure during a live media chat after his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Governor Mbah, he is optimistic that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will ensure that all state funds are recovered.

“I am aware that some money has been paid back to Enugu State government account, and I am optimistic that with the way the EFCC is handling the case, no state fund with him will be left unpaid back,” Mbah said.

The controversy surrounding Sujimoto Luxury Construction Company Limited began when the company allegedly abandoned the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools after receiving 50% mobilization fees amounting to N5,762,565,475.25.

Despite the contract award in July 2024, the company failed to meet the six-month deadline for completion, prompting the Enugu State Government to terminate the contract and petition the EFCC.

The EFCC subsequently declared Ogundele wanted for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.

In a viral video, Ogundele claimed that the contract was underpriced and that inflation hindered project execution. However, the Enugu State Government refuted these claims, stating that Ogundele’s firm did substandard work and abandoned the sites.

The EFCC had secured a court order to detain Ogundele, and the agency had been working to recover the allegedly diverted funds. The Enugu State Government has also retaken possession of the abandoned sites and handed them over to new contractors.

In September, the EFCC declared Ogundele wanted for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.

The anti-graft commission, in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, called on members of the public with helpful information about Ogundele’s whereabouts to provide such information to the commission.

“Ogundele is a 44-year-old indigene of Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State and his last known address is G29, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos state,” the anti-graft agency said.

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja offices.”

Ogundele was previously detained at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) in Abuja for alleged fraud and was released on bail in October 2024.

It was reported that Ogundele was detained by the police after a human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi, petitioned the police and accused Ogundele of obtaining by false pretence the sum of $325,000 from one Kabiru Ibrahim on November 5, 2020.

The lawyer alleged that the money was meant for the 50% payment of the agreed total of $650,000 for a property consisting of one unit of a three-bedroom flat located in Leonardo Estate by Sujimoto Home.

“In 2020, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele approached our client and fraudulently represented himself and the company, offering to sell one unit of a three-bedroom flat at an estate known as Leonardo by Sujimoto Home, supported by a brochure depicting the property,” the petition read.

“The property was advertised for $750,000, with consideration given to our client if 50% was paid immediately, reducing the price to $650,000 after a meeting held between our client and Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele.

“Our client accepted the offer and made a payment of $325,000, acknowledged by Sujimoto Construction Limited on 5 November 2020, constituting 50% of the agreed sum of $650,000.

“Expecting construction progress and updates on our client’s property, our client was surprised to learn that there was no such project underway, and the money was taken under the pretence of a purported development.” (SaharaReporters)