Court sanctions detention of Sujimoto CEO

An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to detain the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Mr Sijibomi Ogundele, in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged N5.7 billion unexecuted contract.

The court order permits the EFCC to hold Mr Ogundele in custody pending the conclusion of investigations into claims that he received substantial funds from the Enugu State Government for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools, but allegedly failed to execute the contract as agreed.

According to court documents and official statements, Mr Ogundele received ₦5,762,565,475.25, representing 50% mobilisation of the total contract value, with an expectation to complete the school projects within six months from February 2025.

The Enugu State Government has accused Mr Ogundele of abandoning the project sites shortly after mobilisation, failing to meet contract specifications, and ignoring repeated invitations for dialogue and accountability. It was also alleged that substandard and incomplete work was observed at various locations, with some sites remaining at foundation or damp-proof course levels more than a year after the award.

In response to a petition by the state government, a joint inspection by EFCC officials and the Enugu State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure was conducted in May 2025, which reportedly confirmed that “minimal to no significant work” had been carried out across the 22 project sites.

Prior to his detention, the EFCC declared Mr Ogundele wanted on 5 September, citing his refusal to honour several summons. He later surrendered to the agency after posting messages on social media asserting his innocence, claiming the contract was underpriced and blaming inflation for delays.