The Enugu State government has recovered N1.27 billion from Mr Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, following an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the alleged diversion of funds intended for the construction of Smart Green Schools in the state.
The recovered sum, part of payments made for projects that were reportedly abandoned or substantially unexecuted, was formally handed over to the state government yesterday at the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office via a series of bank drafts and cheques.
Presenting the funds, EFCC Enugu Zonal Director, Daniel Ise, said the recovery was in line with the Commission’s statutory mandate to trace, recover, and restitute public funds lost through economic and financial crimes.
The recovery followed a petition submitted by the Enugu State Government, which prompted the EFCC to commence investigations.
“As of today, we have been able to recover drafts to the tune of N1,234,350,000 and an additional N50,000,000, bringing the total to N1,284,350,000 for the benefit of the Enugu State government,” Ise stated.
The zonal director credited the diligence and professionalism of the EFCC officers handling the case for the progress achieved. He stressed that the handover does not mark the end of the investigation, assuring that all facets of the petition will continue to be examined to ensure that every unaccounted kobo is traced and recovered. Where evidence of criminality is established, prosecution will follow in accordance with the law.
Ise also urged contractors to comply strictly with the Procurement Act and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to collaborating with governments at all levels to safeguard public resources.
Receiving the funds on behalf of the state government, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, commended the EFCC for its professionalism and resilience, despite public distractions surrounding the case.
Onyia described the recovery as a demonstration of the Enugu State administration’s commitment to transparency, traceability, and accountability—key principles of Governor Peter Mbah’s governance philosophy. He assured residents that the recovered funds would be reinvested in infrastructure projects to improve the quality of life in the state.
“When there was a misalignment between our intent to use taxpayers’ money for development and what we saw in terms of delivery, we approached the EFCC to help us recover the funds. Today marks the beginning of that recovery process, and we are pleased with the outcome so far,” Onyia said.
He added that legal action has been instituted against the contractor and that due process is being allowed to run its full course to avoid future complications or litigation. Investigations are still ongoing, and the government reiterated its resolve to hold all contractors accountable for the proper execution of public projects.
“Any contractor who fails to deliver value for public funds will face appropriate legal consequences based on the advice of our legal authorities,” Onyia concluded.
