EFCC Grills Sujimoto CEO Sijibomi Ogundele Over ₦5.7bn Enugu Funds Diversion, Accounts Frozen

EFCC has grilled Sujimoto CEO Sijibomi Ogundele over ₦5.7bn Enugu Funds Diversion and have frozen his accounts.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday interrogated the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, over allegations of diverting ₦5.7 billion belonging to the Enugu State Government.

Ogundele was grilled for several hours at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, with sources indicating he could be detained as questioning stretched late into the night.

Investigators also froze both his personal and company accounts, alongside seizing his international passport, pending the outcome of a preliminary probe.

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The case stems from an ₦11 billion contract awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government. While the initial approval allowed for 30% mobilisation, Ogundele reportedly pressed for 50% to accelerate completion. Authorities subsequently released ₦5.7 billion.

However, officials later alleged that only about ₦750 million worth of work was executed before the contractor allegedly abandoned the site. A formal petition was then filed with the EFCC.

After failing to honour multiple invitations, Ogundele was declared wanted. Before his eventual surrender, EFCC operatives and state representatives had visited the project site for inspection.

A senior EFCC official confirmed:

“He has been with us for more than 10 hours. We have frozen all accounts linked to him and his company and seized his passport to restrict movement. He has not been granted bail.”

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale also confirmed that questioning was still ongoing as of Tuesday.

In a video response, a visibly emotional Ogundele denied wrongdoing, insisting the matter was a contractual dispute rather than a criminal case.

“I’m not a thief. I’m not a fugitive. This was a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. I was going there every week to work on the project,” he said.

The investigation is still in progress.