The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, for several hours in Abuja over allegations of diverting N5.7billion belonging to Enugu State.
Ogundele, who arrived at the commission’s headquarters after being declared wanted, was still being interrogated by investigators as of 8pm on Monday, with strong indications that he might be detained.
A source at the anti-graft agency confirmed that the EFCC had frozen Ogundele’s personal and company accounts and seized his passport 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 controversy stems from an N11 billion contract awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government.
Although the state initially approved 30 percent payment, Ogundele allegedly pleaded for 50 percent upfront to fast-track delivery. The government released N5.7billion — representing half of the contract sum.
However, according to the petition filed by the state, the actual value of work delivered by Sujimoto on site was estimated at only N750 million.
Officials accused Ogundele of abandoning the project, refusing to return to site, and dodging accountability despite repeated reminders.
Following his failure to honour EFCC invitations, the anti-graft agency declared him wanted before he eventually turned himself in.
Reacting in a video shared online, a visibly emotional Ogundele denied any wrongdoing, insisting the matter was a contractual dispute and not a criminal case.
“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.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed late Monday that investigators were still grilling the luxury construction mogul.
Culled: SAHARA REPORTERS