EFCC Detains Sujimoto CEO Over Alleged N5.7 Billion Diversion, Freezes Accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Sijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, over allegations of diverting N5.7 billion belonging to the Enugu State Government.

The EFCC declared Ogundele wanted after he failed to honor several invitations, but he eventually surrendered to the agency.

According to the EFCC, Ogundele’s company was awarded an N11 billion contract by the Enugu State Government for the construction of Smart Schools. Despite receiving N5.7 billion, representing half of the contract sum, the actual value of work delivered was estimated at only N750 million.

State officials accused Ogundele of abandoning the project and dodging accountability.

Ogundele’s lawyers claim his detention is linked to alleged kickbacks involving Enugu State officials.

They accuse the newly appointed Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Enugu, Aisha Abubakar, of shielding implicated officials. Abubakar allegedly took over the case file from the initial investigative team, reassigning it to Deputy Director Adaora Asabe Oragudosi, which stalled efforts to hold officials accountable.

During a visit to Ogundele in detention, his lawyers were reportedly barred from communicating with him, and he was held with restricted access to food and water.

Ogundele’s legal team strongly protested, describing the treatment as a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights.

The EFCC has frozen Ogundele’s personal and company accounts and seized his passport to restrict his movement.

Ogundele denies any wrongdoing, insisting the matter is a contractual dispute rather than a criminal case.