‘Sujimoto CEO used inexperienced workers, quack engineers, abandoned project’ – Enugu govt

….I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive – Sujimoto CEO

ENUGU — The Enugu State Government has accused the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Olasijibomi Ogundele, of defrauding the state of nearly ₦6 billion meant for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, the government alleged that Ogundele abandoned the projects after receiving 50 percent of the contract sum and failed to deliver quality work at the sites.

State Government will surely recover every penny of Ndi Enugu fraudulently obtained by Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele,” the statement concluded.

Ogundele’s reaction

Meanwhile, Ogundele, in an emotional video shared online, denied the fraud allegations and vowed to clear his name before the EFCC.

“I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This is a contract between my company and Enugu State Government. In the middle of the project, the governor said he wanted to build a city and the tallest building in Nigeria. Now they declared me wanted and destroyed my company that I built. I am going to the EFCC office to clear my name,” he said, blaming inflation and project delays for the contract breakdown.

The EFCC has since declared Ogundele wanted. In a notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the commission urged the public to provide information about his whereabouts.

The notice read in part: “Olasijibomi Ogundele of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of diversion of funds and money laundering. Anybody with useful information should please contact the Commission or the nearest police station.”

While the EFCC did not disclose the exact amount involved, the declaration confirmed that the businessman is under investigation for major financial crimes.