Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele, has remained in EFCC custody at the Enugu Zonal Command since Monday, September 8, 2025, after voluntarily appearing to clarify his company’s contractual dispute with the Enugu State Government, but was instead detained and denied access to his lawyers,
His legal team condemned this development, describing it as a clear violation of his fundamental rights.
SaharaRwporters reported that Ogundele had honoured an invitation to clarify issues surrounding a lingering contractual dispute between his company and the Enugu State Government but was taken into custody upon arrival on Monday, September 8, 2025.
He denounced the development as part of what he described as a “pattern of malicious persecution” by state authorities.
The embattled CEO has been in the spotlight since June 2025 over the controversial Smart School contract dispute currently before the Enugu State High Court.
In connection with the same matter, the EFCC recently declared him wanted, accusing him of failing to respond to earlier summons.
Tensions heightened on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, when Ogundele’s legal representatives paid him a visit at the EFCC facility.
During the meeting, Ogundele tried to narrate the harsh detention conditions he was allegedly enduring under the supervision of Ms. Adaora Asabe Oragudosi, head of the agency’s Tax Fraud Section in Enugu.
Sources said the businessman attempted to tell his lawyers how he had been held for days with little access to food and water.
However, Ms. Oragudosi reportedly halted him abruptly, preventing him from continuing. She subsequently ordered that Ogundele be taken back into custody and directed his legal team to vacate the premises.
His counsel, Barrister Victor Clinton, confirmed the encounter, describing it as a brazen violation of Ogundele’s rights.
Meanwhile, earlier reports revealed that Ogundele had also faced extensive questioning at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
He arrived at the commission’s office on Monday after being declared wanted and was grilled for more than 10 hours over allegations of diverting N5.7 billion belonging to the Enugu State Government.
An EFCC source disclosed that his personal and corporate accounts had been frozen, and his passport seized to prevent him from leaving the country.
“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,” the source said.
The allegations revolve around an N11 billion contract awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government.
Although the agreement reportedly allowed for a 30 percent advance, Ogundele allegedly requested 50 percent upfront to accelerate delivery.
The state government released N5.7 billion in response.
According to the state’s petition, however, the actual work carried out on site was