Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly obtained a court order to keep Sijibomi Ogundele, the CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, in custody as investigations intensify into an alleged N5.7 billion contract scandal. At the core of the case are claims that Sujimoto failed to deliver on 22 Smart Green School projects in Enugu State despite being paid a considerable mobilization fee by the government.
According to EFCC officials, Ogundele’s detention follows allegations that Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited received N5.7 billion from the Enugu State Government to develop state-of-the-art, eco-friendly schools in multiple districts across the state. The project, designed to accelerate education infrastructure with innovative green solutions, was part of the state’s efforts to modernize learning environments and promote sustainability.
However, the Commission alleges that a year after payment, visible construction progress remains negligible on most of the contracted sites. Authorities began to suspect that project funds may not have been utilized according to agreed terms, prompting the EFCC to launch an investigation. As of this report, Ogundele is still in EFCC custody and facing ongoing questioning over the use of the funds, while both his personal and corporate accounts have been frozen by court order. His international passport has also been seized to restrict his movement while the probe continues, according to an EFCC source familiar with the case.
Insiders at the EFCC say that, depending on how the investigation proceeds, the agency may seek further court orders to forfeit any funds in the frozen accounts. “We obtained a remand order from the Magistrate Court so we can keep him while the investigation continues,” one EFCC officer, who asked not to be named, told reporters. “There’s documentary evidence of payment. We also have the contract’s terms and proof of non-compliance,” the officer noted.
According to this source, the expectation is for Ogundele to account for how the N5.7 billion was spent, or else provide a refund. “Based on what we have, the case itself appears fairly straightforward, but due process will be followed,” the EFCC official added.
The freezing of Ogundele’s accounts is a precautionary step; if EFCC’s probe uncovers substantial evidence of funds misappropriation, the Commission could approach the courts to effect the permanent forfeiture of identified assets. Nigerian legal experts note that such asset seizure is in line with the country’s anti-graft laws, particularly where public resources are involved. “Asset recovery is often pursued in high-value contract fraud cases,” legal analyst Richard Akande explained. “It sends a signal that contractual obligations must be respected.”
Looking ahead, EFCC investigators have disclosed plans to bring Ogundele face-to-face with senior Enugu State officials, including those from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, as part of their evidence-gathering efforts. Since late last month, Ogundele had already been declared wanted by the EFCC over allegations of money laundering and related offences, with the Commission urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
Not long after being named, Ogundele denied any wrongdoing in a series of social media posts on X (formerly Twitter). He attributed project delays to what he described as unrealistic contract pricing and the country’s persistent inflation, which has pushed construction costs to historic highs. According to Ogundele, these financial pressures rendered the initial contract value insufficient to deliver all the planned schools to specification.
Responding to Ogundele’s public defense, the Enugu State Government has strongly disputed his claims, maintaining that Sujimoto received half the contract sum—N5,762,565,475.25—upfront specifically to ensure rapid project delivery. A government spokesperson stated, “Mr. Ogundele received payment to expedite work on 22 Smart Green School sites, all due for completion within six months by February 2025.”
According to an official government statement examined by NowahalaZone, the state accuses Sujimoto Luxury Construction of using unqualified workers and engineers, resulting in substandard construction at the few sites where progress was made. The government further claims that the small volume of completed work failed to meet agreed structural integrity standards. Allegedly, after receiving initial funds, Ogundele became unreachable, ignoring calls and invitations from the government, and skipping periodic contractors’ briefings without explanation.
The Enugu State Government adds that, after all efforts to engage Ogundele failed, it had “no choice” but to escalate the matter to the EFCC to recover public funds. A joint inspection by state and EFCC officials, conducted on May 8 and 9, 2025, reportedly revealed “minimal to no significant physical work” at any of the 22 construction sites, despite the contract being awarded more than a year prior.
State officials provide additional examples of alleged malpractices, including a failure in some cases to complete even basic excavation work for all planned blocks, suggesting that claims of project underpricing may not fully explain the lack of visible progress. They state that other contractors performing similar work have continued to meet their targets, reinforcing doubts about Sujimoto’s performance. Most of the project locations were reportedly still at the foundation or Damp Proof Course (DPC) stage, or just starting block work, based on photographs, site inspection reports, and community testimonials.
To prevent disruption of its educational mission, the Enugu State Government has since revoked Sujimoto’s contract, handing the sites to new construction firms now starting the work from scratch. As a point of comparison, state authorities emphasize that other companies, including local contractor Ever Progressive Integrated Resources Venture, have not only remained on schedule but completed similar Smart Green School projects. “We handled Smart Green Schools at Ugwuomu Nike, Queens School, and Inyi in Oji River. Our projects are testaments to what is possible with commitment,” said Benneth Nwatu, MD/CEO of Ever Progressive Integrated, in a media interview.
Industry observers say these allegations and ensuing investigations strike at the heart of Nigeria’s infrastructure development drive—and highlight challenges that frequently bedevil public procurement in West Africa, from transparency issues to inflation and contract administration lapses. According to data from Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement, delayed or uncompleted public contracts cost the country billions annually. Comparable high-profile cases have occurred in Ghana and Senegal, where incomplete school or health clinic projects have attracted public scrutiny and led to reforms strengthening oversight.
Nigerian civil society activists, such as Temitope Adebayo of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, argue that effective prosecution and transparent outcomes in cases like this are vital for public trust. “People want to see that public money is not only safe, but that contractors are genuinely held accountable when projects fall short,” Adebayo said in a telephone interview. Community leaders in Enugu, meanwhile, have voiced concerns about disruption to children’s learning and called for faster justice and project resumption.
As EFCC’s investigation unfolds, stakeholders throughout Nigeria and across West Africa will be watching closely—not just for its implications for infrastructure contracting, but for what it signals about both the limitations and the possibility of reforms in public project delivery. While the full legal process must still play out, the case underlines the high stakes attached to Nigeria’s drive for educational advancement and public sector accountability.
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