Alleged ₦5.7 Billion Diversion: Sujimoto Allegedly Denied Legal Representation and Medical Care After Submitting Himself to the EFCC

Alleged ₦5.7 Billion Diversion: Sujimoto Allegedly Denied Legal Representation and Medical Care After Submitting Himself to the EFCC.

Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd., remains in custody at the Enugu zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after voluntarily visiting on September 8, 2025, to address a contractual dispute with the Enugu State Government.

Ogundele’s company has been in court since June over an N11 billion Smart School project. EFCC had declared him wanted over allegations of diverting N5.7 billion, part of the advance payment released by the state. According to the petition, only N750 million worth of work was delivered before he allegedly abandoned the project.

On Monday, he was interrogated for hours in Abuja before being transferred to Enugu, where his passport was seized and accounts frozen.

During a visit on September 10, Ogundele’s lawyers protested what they described as “flagrant violations” of his rights after EFCC’s Sectional Head, Ms. Adaora Oragudosi, allegedly barred him from fully speaking with them and ordered his return to detention.

According to report, Sujimoto’s counsel, Barrister Victor Clinton, confirmed that Ogundele had faced restricted access to food, water, and legal communication.

EFCC sources insist his detention followed a petition by the Enugu State Government, which accused him of refusing to return to site or provide accountability despite repeated reminders.

In a video statement, Ogundele denied wrongdoing: “I’m not a thief; I’m not a fugitive. This is a contract dispute, not a criminal case. The Enugu State Government asked me to help them build, and I was going to the state every week.”

EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed late Monday that investigations are ongoing.