By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered and returned more than ₦1.28 billion from Olasijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd., to the Enugu State Government following a petition and investigation into alleged mismanagement of public funds.
The recovered funds were handed over on Wednesday at the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office in the form of bank drafts and cheques presented to state government officials. EFCC Zonal Director in Enugu, Daniel Ise, said the recovery was part of the commission’s statutory mandate to trace, recover, and restitute public funds lost through economic and financial crimes.
“As of today, we have been able to recover drafts to the tune of ₦1,234,350,000 and an additional ₦50,000,000, bringing the total to ₦1,284,350,000 for the benefit of the Enugu State Government,” Ise said, adding that work on the case continues to ensure full accountability.
The recovery followed a petition submitted by the Enugu State Government in early 2025, which triggered an EFCC investigation into the abandoned Smart Green Schools project. The state had engaged Sujimoto to build 22 Smart Green Schools across Enugu for more than ₦11.4 billion, but officials said minimal work was done despite a substantial advance payment.
The action has drawn widespread attention, with state officials emphasising that the recovered funds will be reinvested into critical infrastructure and services that directly benefit the people of Enugu. Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its diligence and resilience throughout the proceedings.
The EFCC has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with governments at all levels to safeguard public resources and ensure that contractors adhere to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and other relevant laws during project execution.
Ogundele has previously faced allegations of fund diversion and non-execution of contract terms, leading to a high-profile probe and public scrutiny over the abandoned projects.
