Sujimoto vs Enugu State Government: All You Need to Know

A contract to build “Smart Green Schools” in Enugu has spiralled into accusations, an EFCC probe, and a PR war. The state says it paid ₦5.7 billion to Sujimoto Luxury Construction for 22 schools, but got little work in return.

Sujimoto’s CEO, Olasijibomi “Sujimoto” Ogundele, says cost spikes and project delays, not fraud, are to blame and vows to clear his name.

The big picture

• The programme: Enugu launched a 260-school “Smart Green Schools” plan in 2024, budgeted around ₦420 billion to overhaul basic education infrastructure. Multiple contractors were engaged; Sujimoto handled 22 lots under a separate contract.
  
• The Sujimoto contract: The state says it awarded ~₦11.4 billion on July 2, 2024 for 22 schools, with a six-month completion target to keep the wider programme on track for the September 2025 school year. An advance of ₦5,762,565,475.25 (50%) was paid.

What Enugu alleges

Enugu’s information commissioner, Malachy Agbo, accuses Sujimoto of collecting 50% upfront, showing minimal progress at many sites as of early May 2025, and failing to meet structural specifications.

The state also says Sujimoto presented a Jaiz Bank performance bond to secure the contract but received payment into a Zenith Bank account, complicating recovery via the bond. Officials estimate work done at about ₦750 million, far below the funds released.

The government says it has reassigned the lots to other builders to meet the September 2025 timeline and will seek to recover every naira.

What Sujimoto says

Ogundele denies wrongdoing, calling the saga a contract dispute, not a crime. He says he will cooperate with investigators and argues that cement and other inputs jumped sharply, FX and logistics worsened. Some sites faced security issues,all of which delayed delivery. He maintains that the company’s spending was substantial and that timelines slipped due to macro shocks, not diversion.

Where the EFCC comes in

• Wanted notice (Sept 5): The EFCC announced Ogundele wanted for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering tied to the Enugu contract.
  
• Questioning (Sept 9): Ogundele appeared at EFCC headquarters in Abuja and was questioned for hours. Media reports indicated his accounts were frozen and his passport was retained pending investigation. As of publication, no formal charges had been announced.

The money trail in dispute

At the heart of the controversy is a gap between money released and work verified. The state cites ₦5.76 billion disbursed versus about ₦750 million worth of visible work. Sujimoto counters that inflation, FX shocks, and operational risks impeded delivery and that its spend runs into the billions, a claim advocacy groups dispute while urging refunds.

What happens to the schools?

Enugu says the 22 lots formerly held by Sujimoto have been reassigned and that the broader Smart Green Schools rollout remains on schedule for the September 2025 academic year. Other bulk contractors publicly say they are delivering on target.

What to watch next

1. EFCC decisions: Whether the probe leads to charges, asset-recovery suits, or a settlement.
   
2. Civil recovery: The state could pursue civil claims, attach performance bonds, or garnish accounts if courts agree funds were misapplied; the bond-vs-payment-account issue may be central.
   
3. Delivery timeline: Whether the reassigned lots meet the September 2025 reopening goal will test the state’s plan.
   
4. Procurement lessons: Expect tighter payment controls, escrowed disbursements, and on-site verification before advances in future public works.