A civic group in Enugu has thrown its support behind the state government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in efforts to recover ₦5.7bn paid to luxury real estate firm Sujimoto Construction for schools that were never built.
The Enugu State Government accused Sujimoto’s chief executive, Olasijibomi Ogundele, of defrauding the state of ₦5.76bn earmarked for the construction of 22 “smart green schools” – part of a flagship education project covering 260 sites. Ogundele was declared wanted by the EFCC last week on allegations of money laundering and diversion of public funds.
In a video posted online, Ogundele denied any wrongdoing and said he was prepared to clear his name.
But the Enugu State Patriots, in a statement signed by spokesperson Prof Mathiine Anikwe, insisted the money must be returned. “No one can blame the government for awarding the contract to Sujimoto, given its projects in Lagos. But having failed to show value for money here, we advise Ogundele to clean his crocodile tears and return the money to Ndi Enugu. Period,” Anikwe said.
The group praised the Mbah administration’s prioritisation of education – which accounted for 30% of the 2024 budget and 33% in 2025 – and said other contractors working on the schools project had delivered in line with standards and timelines.
They added that the government’s investment in modern learning infrastructure was vital to equip children in Enugu with the skills to compete in a global economy.
