The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, in Abuja over an alleged N5.7 billion contract fraud involving the Enugu State Government.
Ogundele, who turned himself in after being declared wanted, was interrogated on Monday for more than 10 hours, with indications that he might be detained as questioning continued late into the night.
According to EFCC sources, the commission has frozen all personal and corporate accounts linked to Ogundele and seized his international passport to restrict his movement while investigations continue.
“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.
“We have frozen all his accounts and that of his company pending the conclusion of preliminary investigation. We will also seize his passport to restrict his movement to the country.”
The case stems from a contract reportedly valued at over N11 billion, awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government. Although 30 per cent of the contract sum was initially approved for payment, Ogundele allegedly pleaded for 50 per cent, amounting to N5.7 billion, on the assurance that he would deliver the project ahead of schedule.
However, it is understood that the state government claims that work done on the project was worth no more than N750 million, alleging that the contractor abandoned the site and failed to honour repeated calls to return. This prompted the state to petition the EFCC.
Investigators, alongside Enugu State officials, had earlier inspected the project site before inviting Ogundele. When he failed to appear, he was declared wanted by the commission.
Confirming the development, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said: “Our investigators are still grilling him.”
Recall that Ogundele, last week vowed to clear his name, insisting he will defend himself against the allegations.