By Ali Elias
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than ₦1.28 billion from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd, funds traced to the Enugu State Government in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of monies meant for public infrastructure projects.
The recovery was made from the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, following allegations by the Enugu State Government that the firm had defrauded the state of ₦5.76 billion earmarked for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the allegations, first made in September 2025, prompted the EFCC to commence a detailed investigation into the execution of the contract. The Commission said the funds recovered so far were part of payments made for projects that were either abandoned or substantially unexecuted.
Presenting the recovered cheques and bank drafts to the Enugu State Government on Wednesday in Enugu, the EFCC Zonal Director for Enugu, Mr. Daniel Ise, said the action was in line with the Commission’s statutory mandate to trace, recover, and restitute public funds lost through economic and financial crimes.
According to Ise, the recovery followed a formal petition submitted by the Enugu State Government, which triggered the investigation.
“As of today, we have been able to recover drafts to the tune of ₦1,234,350,000 and an additional ₦50 million, bringing the total recovery to ₦1,284,350,000 for the benefit of the Enugu State Government,” he said.
The zonal director attributed the progress recorded to the diligence and professionalism of EFCC officers handling the matter, but stressed that the handover of the funds did not signal the conclusion of the investigation.
“This does not mark the end of the case. We will look at every facet of the petition to ensure that every kobo belonging to the Enugu State Government that is not accounted for is tracked and recovered,” Ise said, adding that prosecution would follow where evidence of criminality is established.
He also cautioned contractors executing public projects to comply strictly with extant laws, particularly the Public Procurement Act, warning that accountability in the execution of government contracts remained non-negotiable.
Receiving the cheques on behalf of the Enugu State Government, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, commended the EFCC for what he described as its professionalism, focus, and resilience despite what he termed “distractions and noise in the public space” surrounding the case.
Onyia said the recovery underscored the commitment of the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to transparency, traceability, and accountability in the management of public resources.
“When there was a misalignment between our intent to use taxpayers’ money for development and what we saw in terms of delivery, we approached the EFCC to help us recover the funds,” he said. “Today marks the beginning of that recovery process, and we are pleased with the outcome so far.”
The SSG assured that the recovered funds would be reinvested in infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life of residents of the state. He disclosed that the government had earlier instituted legal action against the contractor while also petitioning the EFCC, allowing due process to take its course to avoid complications or future litigation.
Onyia noted that investigations were still ongoing and declined to pre-empt their outcome, reiterating the state government’s resolve to hold all contractors accountable for projects awarded to them.
He emphasised that any contractor found to have failed in delivering value for public funds would face appropriate legal consequences, in line with the advice of the state’s legal authorities.