The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged diversion of N5.7 billion reportedly belonging to the Enugu State Government.
Ogundele was interrogated for several hours at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, amid signs he could be detained. As of 8pm, sources said questioning was still ongoing.
In connection with the investigation, the EFCC has frozen all his bank accounts, as well as those of his construction company.
The anti-graft agency has also seized his international passport to restrict his movement while the probe continues.
The case stems from an over N11 billion contract awarded to Ogundele’s firm by the Enugu State Government.
Initially, the state approved 30 percent upfront payment, but Ogundele reportedly requested 50 percent, pledging to fast-track project delivery.
Based on that assurance, the government released N5.7 billion, half of the contract sum.
However, the Enugu State Government now claims that the value of the work done on site amounts to only about N750 million, with Ogundele allegedly abandoning the project and refusing to return.
Following repeated unsuccessful attempts to get him to respond, the state filed a petition with the EFCC.
When Ogundele failed to honour the EFCC’s initial invitation, he was declared wanted.
Before he eventually surrendered, investigators, along with officials from the Enugu State Government, reportedly inspected the project site to assess the level of work done.
An EFCC source confirmed his surrender on Monday, stating:
“The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited has surrendered to our commission and we immediately took him into custody.”
“For more than 10 hours, we have been questioning him based on the petition of the Enugu State Government.”
“We have frozen all his accounts and that of his company pending the conclusion of preliminary investigation. We will also seize his passport to restrict his movement to the country.”
The source further added “We are still interrogating him, we are yet to admit him to bail.”
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development, saying “Our investigators were still grilling him.”
Following the EFCC’s declaration that he was wanted, Sijibomi Ogundele appeared in a video posted online, emotionally addressing the allegations.
In the video, he tearfully defended himself, stating that the situation stemmed from a contractual disagreement, not fraud:
“I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This is a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. The Enugu State Government asked me to help them build a couple of things, which was very interesting. I was going to the state every week.”
Ogundele has vowed to clear his name and insists he is not guilty of any criminal conduct.
Source: The Nation
