The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday interrogated the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, over an alleged diversion of N5.7 billion belonging to Enugu State.
Ogundele was quizzed for several hours at the commission’s Abuja office, with indications he could be detained as the session continued into the night. Investigators also froze his personal and company accounts pending the outcome of a preliminary probe.
The matter is tied to a contract worth over N11 billion awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government.
While the government initially approved a 30 percent mobilisation, Ogundele reportedly requested 50 percent to fast-track completion. The state released N5.7 billion based on this plea.
However, authorities later alleged that the value of work delivered was only about N750 million. They also accused the contractor of abandoning the site and evading responsibility, prompting a formal petition to the EFCC.
Following his alleged failure to honour invitations, Ogundele was declared wanted. Before he appeared, EFCC operatives and state officials visited the project site for inspection. A source at the anti-graft agency confirmed his surrender.
“He has been with us for more than 10 hours. We have frozen all accounts linked to him and his company and seized his passport to restrict movement,” the source said, adding that Ogundele had not been granted bail.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, also confirmed that investigators were still questioning the developer as of Tuesday. In reaction, Ogundele released a video insisting he was innocent.
Tearfully, he described the matter as a contractual disagreement with the Enugu State Government rather than a criminal case. “I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive.
This was a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. I was going there every week to work on the project,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing.”