The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order to detain Sijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, over an alleged N5.7 billion unexecuted contract.
Ogundele is under investigation for allegedly failing to deliver 22 Smart Green School projects in Enugu State after receiving N5.7 billion from the state government. The EFCC is currently interrogating him to determine how the funds were spent.
Sources revealed that the remand order was obtained from a Magistrate Court to keep Ogundele in custody until investigations are completed. The anti-graft agency may also seek a court order to permanently seize funds in his personal and company accounts, which were previously frozen along with his international passport.
An EFCC source said, “He is expected to explain how he spent the N5.7 billion or refund the money. His case looks straightforward.”
Ogundele, who was declared wanted by the EFCC in late August for alleged money laundering, had earlier claimed on X that the contract was underpriced and that inflation made it impossible to complete the projects.
The Enugu State Government countered his claims, stating that it paid him N5.76 billion — representing 50 percent mobilization fee — to fast-track the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools within six months. The government accused Ogundele of using inexperienced workers, delivering shoddy work that failed structural integrity tests, and eventually abandoning the sites.
Officials said efforts to reach Ogundele for discussions failed, forcing the government to petition the EFCC. A joint inspection by state officials and EFCC operatives in May reportedly confirmed that minimal to no significant work had been done on most sites, with some projects still at the foundation stage over a year after the contract award.
The government has since re-awarded the projects to new contractors, many of whom are already nearing completion. Benneth Nwatu, CEO of Ever Progressive Integrated Resources Venture, testified that his company has completed several Smart Green School projects within the stipulated time frame and has been awarded more due to timely delivery and quality work.
