The Enugu State Government has accused Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, of defrauding the state of N5.7 billion intended for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools.

The allegation is detailed in a statement released on Friday by the governor’s spokesperson, following the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring Ogundele wanted for alleged fund diversion and money laundering.

According to the statement, Ogundele received 50% of the contract sum—approximately N5.7 billion—before disappearing, leaving the school projects largely unfinished. The government claims the contractor used a Zenith Bank account, rather than a Jaiz Bank bond presented to secure the contract, complicating efforts to hold the bank accountable.

The projects, awarded on July 2, 2024, with a total value of N11.457 billion, were expected to be completed within six months for the September 2025 school resumption. Investigations, including a joint visit by the Enugu Ministry of Works and EFCC on May 8 and 9, 2025, revealed minimal progress, with some sites lacking proper excavation or structural integrity.

The state government alleges premeditated fraud, asserting that Ogundele’s actions—from misdirecting funds to abandoning sites—indicated intent from the start.

In response, authorities have reassigned the projects to new contractors to keep the Smart Green Schools initiative on track, vowing to recover every naira allegedly misappropriated.

In a contrasting narrative, Ogundele released a video denying the allegations, attributing delays to economic challenges such as rising material costs, inflation, foreign exchange volatility, manpower shortages, logistical issues, and security concerns.

He claimed to have mobilized 42 engineers, faced equipment difficulties, and tackled projects beyond his company’s prior experience, insisting expenditures were transparent.