The Enugu State Government has accused prominent real estate developer Olasijibomi Ogundele, popularly known as Sujimoto, of defrauding the state of ₦5.7 billion disbursed for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, the government alleged that Ogundele disappeared after receiving a 50% mobilisation fee—amounting to ₦5.7 billion—on an ₦11.4 billion contract awarded to him on July 2, 2024. The project, part of the state’s Smart Schools initiative, was to be completed within six months.
“Instead of delivering the schools, Ogundele allegedly carried out substandard work, employed unqualified engineers, and eventually abandoned all project sites without meeting structural specifications,” the statement read.
The government claimed that Sujimoto ignored all project briefings, refused to respond to official communications, and failed to appear for site inspections.
Further allegations state that Ogundele presented a performance bond from a bank to secure the contract but redirected payments to a different account in another bank—reportedly shielding the initial bank from liability and raising concerns of “premeditated intent to defraud.”
The accusation comes shortly after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Sujimoto wanted on August 5, 2025, for alleged involvement in money laundering and diversion of public funds. In response, Ogundele released an emotional video denying the allegations and claiming the dispute with the Enugu State Government was behind the EFCC’s action against him.
However, the state government maintains that his video is nothing more than a distraction.
“No amount of crocodile tears from Sujimoto will erase the fact that he defrauded the people,” said Commissioner Agbo.
“Every kobo misappropriated will be recovered through the EFCC and all available legal channels.”
The government also revealed that a joint inspection by officials from the Ministry of Works and the EFCC on May 8 and 9, 2025, confirmed that most construction sites were abandoned at the foundation level, with only a few reaching the damp-proof course stage.
Following these findings, the state said it has reassigned the projects to new contractors, who are now working to meet the September 2025 deadline set under Governor Peter Mbah’s Smart Schools initiative.
Photos from the inspection reportedly show the abandoned state of the school construction sites, which the government has since made public.
