The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed interrogating the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, in Abuja over allegations of diverting N5.7 billion belonging to the Enugu State Government.
Confirming the development, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said late Monday that Ogundele was being interrogated by investigators.
Ogundele, who had earlier been declared wanted, surrendered to the anti-graft agency and was still being grilled as of 8pm on Monday, with indications he might be detained.
A source at the EFCC confirmed that the agency had taken steps to restrict his movement.
“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,” the source said.
The official added: “The EFCC has frozen Ogundele’s personal and company accounts and seized his passport to restrict his movement.”
The controversy revolves around an N11 billion contract awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government. While the government initially approved 30 percent payment, Ogundele allegedly pleaded for 50 percent upfront to accelerate project delivery.
The state released N5.7 billion, representing half of the contract sum. However, according to the petition before the EFCC, the value of work done on site was estimated at only N750 million.
Officials accused Ogundele of abandoning the project, failing to return to site, and ignoring repeated calls for accountability.
Following his failure to honour several EFCC invitations, the anti-graft agency declared him wanted before he eventually surrendered.
Reacting in a video message shared online, a visibly emotional Ogundele rejected the allegations, insisting the matter was contractual rather than criminal.
“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,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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