•Sujimoto CEO Ogundele (L) and Governor Mbah of Enugu State
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has recovered N1.2 billion which belongs to the Enugu State government from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, a Lagos-based construction firm.
The anti-graft agency said it recovered the fund from the company over its failure to honour the agreement it had with the state government on the construction of 22 smart schools, reports Daily Trust.
The Commission, however, handed over the money to the state government yesterday.
It was earlier reported how the state government dragged the Group Managing Director of the Firm, Olasijibomi Ogundele, to the Commission through a petition.
According to the EFCC, the petitioner said the contract completion deadline elapsed on January 2, 2025, without any meaningful progress on the project.
“The persistent non-performance of the contractor, as shown by the documents, is clear evidence of intention to defraud the state government,” the commission quoted the petitioner as saying.
The petition also identified Ogundele as being jointly liable for the refund of the funds, alleging an “irremediable breach” of the contract and diversion of project funds.
Following the petition, EFCC said its operatives in the Enugu zonal directorate commenced investigations, which led to the recovery of N1,234,350,000 for the state government.
Reacting to the petition, operatives of the Special Task Fraud Section attached to the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Commission, swung into action and the sum of N1, 234,350,000 was recovered for the state government.
Representing the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede during the handing over, the Zonal Director, Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Commission, Commander of the EFCC, Daniel Isei reiterated the Commission’s commitment to recovering public funds.
“Where there are instances of economic and financial crimes against an individual or an agency of government, against government itself, the EFCC will ensure that every act that is contrary to law is dealt with, and where possible, restitution is made to the victim.
“It is on this basis that we received your petition as a state government that there was a case that needed EFCC to do as mandated by law.
“We are glad to announce to you that in doing our job, we have been able to recover some of those monies that were given to Sujimoto Construction”, he said.
While warning contractors, especially those entrusted with public funds to be mindful of the Procurement Act and be guided by integrity while handling public funds, Olukoyede said that the Commission will look at every facet of the petition against Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited and ensure that every kobo of Enugu State government that is not accounted for, is traced, tracked, and recovered.
“Where cases of criminality are established, the EFCC will take further steps of prosecution. That must be clearly understood. For us, we will continue to expect that people align their activities to processes and procedures.
“People must work clearly in line with extant laws, particularly the Procurement Act. Also, it is very important that where due diligence is applied in all cases, prevention will come into play.
“I advise that we continue to entrench professionalism in all that we do and on the part of other Nigerians that will be doing contracts for local governments, state or the federal governments to ensure that they are always guided by integrity, accountability and transparency in all they do.
“Every public fund that is given out must be adequately utilized or accounted for, else, the EFCC will move in and ensure that issues of economic and financial crimes are speedily dealt with”, he said.
