The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered ₦1.234 billion from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited and returned the funds to the Enugu State Government.
The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
The recovery followed a petition filed by the Enugu State Government after Sujimoto failed to execute a contract for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools, despite receiving over ₦2.28 billion as an advance payment.
EFCC’s Position
According to the commission, the petition was submitted in February 2025, alleging that Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, led by Dr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, diverted funds earmarked for the school’s project for personal or unrelated uses.
The petition cited persistent non-performance, breach of contract, and abandonment of project sites as indicators of an alleged intent to defraud the state government.
EFCC operatives from the Special Task Fraud Section of the Enugu Zonal Directorate investigated the claims and successfully recovered ₦1,234,350,000.
“In line with its unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes and the recovery of public funds misappropriated or unutilized by fraudulent actors, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, handed over the sum of ₦1,234,350,000 to the Enugu State Government,” the commission stated.
The EFCC added that the funds were recovered from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited for its failure to honour the agreement to construct the 22 smart schools across the state.
The commission reiterated its resolve to combat economic and financial crimes, stressing that contractors entrusted with public funds must adhere strictly to the Public Procurement Act and uphold standards of integrity, accountability, and transparency.
The recovered funds were formally handed over to the Enugu State Government, which commended the EFCC for its professionalism, diligence, and thorough investigative process.
Background
In September 2025, the EFCC declared Dr. Olasijibomi Ogundele wanted over allegations of fund diversion and money laundering linked to the ₦5.7 billion Smart Green Schools project.
Ogundele later released a video denying any wrongdoing, attributing project delays to economic and operational challenges such as rising construction costs, inflation, manpower shortages, and security concerns. He maintained that engineers had been mobilized to the sites and expressed commitment to completing the projects.
However, the Enugu State Government alleged that Ogundele disappeared after collecting 50 percent of the contract sum, leaving most project sites abandoned.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed minimal work at several locations, with some sites lacking proper excavation and structural compliance. A joint inspection by officials of the Enugu Ministry of Works and the EFCC in May 2025 reportedly confirmed the lack of substantial progress.
The recovery of ₦1.234 billion represents a partial refund of the funds paid for the unexecuted project and marks a significant step in efforts to safeguard public resources.
