The Enugu State Government has recovered a total of ₦1.27 billion from Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd., following investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into alleged diversion of funds meant for the construction of Smart Green Schools in the state.
The recovered sum, part of monies paid for projects that were either abandoned or substantially unexecuted, was formally handed over to the state government on Wednesday at the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office through bank drafts and cheques.
Presenting the cheques, EFCC Zonal Director Daniel Ise said the recovery was in line with the agency’s statutory mandate to trace, recover, and restitute public funds lost through economic and financial crimes.
“As of today, we have been able to recover drafts to the tune of ₦1,234,350,000 and an additional ₦50,000,000, bringing the total to ₦1,284,350,000 for the benefit of the Enugu State Government,” Ise stated, attributing the progress to the diligence and professionalism of EFCC officers.
He stressed that the handover did not mark the end of the investigation, assuring that the Commission would continue to examine all aspects of the petition and prosecute where evidence of criminality is established.
Government’s Response
Receiving the cheques on behalf of the state government, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its professionalism and resilience despite “distractions and noise in the public space.”
Prof. Onyia said the recovery underscored the administration’s commitment to transparency, traceability, and accountability, principles central to Governor Peter Mbah’s governance philosophy.
He assured that the recovered funds would be reinvested in infrastructure projects to improve the quality of life of Enugu residents.
“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.
Legal Action and Accountability
The SSG disclosed that the state government had earlier instituted legal action against the contractor and petitioned the EFCC, allowing due process to run its course to avoid complications or future litigation.
He reiterated that investigations were ongoing and declined to pre-empt their outcome.
Onyia emphasised that the government would hold all contractors accountable for projects awarded to them, warning that any contractor who fails to deliver value for public funds would face legal consequences.
The case highlights the growing collaboration between state governments and the EFCC in safeguarding public resources.
It also underscores the importance of accountability in public procurement and contract execution, with the EFCC warning that adherence to the Procurement Act is non-negotiable.
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