***Seize Passport, Freezes Accounts
More details have emerged regarding the alleged N5.7 billion smart schools fraud trailing Sijibomi Ogundele, the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited.
According to reports, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday grilled Ogundele, over an alleged diversion of N5.7 billion belonging to Enugu State in a contract involving the construction of 22 smart schools.
EFCC sources revealed that Ogundele was quizzed for several hours at the commission’s Abuja office, with indications he could be detained as the session continued into the night.
Investigators also froze his personal and company accounts pending the outcome of a preliminary probe.
Recall that the Enugu State government had filled a petition against Ogundele in relation to a contract worth over N11 billion.
The government alleged it initially approved a 30 percent mobilisation, however, Ogundele reportedly requested 50 percent to fast-track completion. The state released N5.7 billion based on this plea.
However, authorities later alleged that the value of work delivered on the smart schools project was only about N750 million. They also accused the contractor of abandoning the site and evading responsibility, prompting a formal petition to the EFCC.
Following his alleged failure to honour invitations, Ogundele was declared wanted. Before he appeared, EFCC operatives and state officials visited the project site for inspection.
A source at the anti-graft agency confirmed his surrender. “He has been with us for more than 10 hours. We have frozen all accounts linked to him and his company and seized his passport to restrict movement,” the source said, adding that Ogundele had not been granted bail.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, also confirmed that investigators were still questioning the developer as of Tuesday.
Ogundele continues to maintain his innocence. In a video he released, he tearfully described the matter as a contractual disagreement with the Enugu State Government rather than a criminal case.
“I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This was a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. I was going there every week to work on the project,” he said.
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