The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than ₦1.28 billion from Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd, funds belonging to the Enugu State Government.

The Enugu State Government, in September 2025, accused the company’s CEO of defrauding the state of ₦5.76 billion earmarked for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools across the state.

Following the allegation, the EFCC launched an investigation, during which the recovered sum was identified as part of the monies paid to the company for projects that were allegedly abandoned or substantially unexecuted.

Presenting the cheques to the Enugu State Government on Wednesday in Enugu, the EFCC Zonal Director, Enugu Zone, Mr. Daniel Ise, said the recovery was in line with the Commission’s statutory mandate to trace, recover, and restitute public funds lost to economic and financial crimes.

He disclosed that the recovery followed a petition submitted by the Enugu State Government, which prompted the Commission to commence investigations.

“As of today, we have recovered drafts to the tune of ₦1,234,350,000 and an additional ₦50,000,000, bringing the total to ₦1,284,350,000 for the benefit of the Enugu State Government,” Mr. Ise said.

The zonal director attributed the progress made to the diligence and professionalism of EFCC officers handling the case. However, he stressed that the handover did not mark the conclusion of the investigation.

“This does not mark the end of the case. We will examine every facet of the petition to ensure that every kobo belonging to the Enugu State Government that remains unaccounted for is tracked and recovered,” he said.

Mr. Ise added that where evidence of criminality is established, the Commission would proceed with prosecution in accordance with the law. He also urged contractors to adhere strictly to extant laws, particularly the Public Procurement Act.

He reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to working with governments at all levels to safeguard public resources, warning that accountability in the execution of public contracts remains non-negotiable.

Receiving the cheques on behalf of the state government, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, expressed appreciation to the EFCC, describing the recovery as a testament to the Commission’s professionalism, focus, and resilience, despite what he termed “distractions and noise in the public space” surrounding the matter.

Prof. Onyia said the recovery underscored the Enugu State Government’s commitment to transparency, traceability, and accountability, principles he noted were central to the governance philosophy of Gov. Peter Mbah.

He assured that the recovered funds would be reinvested in infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life of residents.

“When there was a misalignment between our intent to deploy taxpayers’ money for development and what we observed 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 further disclosed that the state government had earlier instituted legal action against the contractor and petitioned the EFCC, allowing due process to take its full course to avoid complications or future litigation.

He noted that investigations were ongoing and declined to pre-empt their outcome, reiterating the government’s resolve to hold all contractors accountable for projects awarded to them.

Prof. Onyia emphasised that any contractor who fails to deliver value for public funds would face appropriate legal consequences, based on the advice of the state’s legal authorities.