VIDEO: Sujimoto CEO Olasijibomi Ogundele Breaks Silence After EFCC Declaration, Admits Enugu Smart School Collapse Was Due to Low Contract Funding

VIDEO: Sujimoto CEO Olasijibomi Ogundele Breaks Silence After EFCC Declaration, Admits Enugu Smart School Collapse Was Due to Low Contract Funding

Enugu, Nigeria — The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Group, Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, has spoken publicly for the first time since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted, addressing not only the graft allegations but also the controversial collapse of a state-funded “Smart School” project in Enugu.

In a video released on Friday, Ogundele denied corruption allegations but admitted that the much-debated Smart School project in Mbu ward 2, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State collapsed after heavy rainfall. This directly contradicts the Enugu State Government’s earlier claims that the building was “demolished” due to substandard construction.

Ogundele, whose Sujimoto Group was awarded the contract for the Smart School initiative under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration, revealed that the project collapsed because the government allocated an unrealistically low contract sum, which made it impossible to deliver at the expected quality.

“I warned from the beginning that the amount awarded for the Smart School was not enough to deliver a durable project. I told the government clearly that you cannot build a world-class school with such funding, but they insisted. Today, the structure collapsed—not demolished, as the government is claiming,” Ogundele said.

The admission has fueled public outrage in Enugu, where citizens had already been raising questions about the integrity of the project and the wider governance style of the Mbah administration. Many residents accuse the governor of sidelining local contractors and awarding critical projects to non-indigenes, a move they believe compromises both quality and accountability.

The collapsed Smart School, which was nearing completion before the incident, has become a symbol of broader discontent. Local community members in Isi-Uzo say the incident represents wasted resources and misplaced priorities at a time when the state is struggling with pressing developmental needs.

The Enugu State Government had earlier defended itself, insisting the school was “deliberately pulled down” due to poor workmanship by the contractor. However, Ogundele’s latest statement directly undermines that narrative, suggesting instead that the government knowingly underfunded the project, creating conditions that led to its collapse.

Meanwhile, Ogundele also addressed the EFCC’s decision to declare him wanted, describing it as part of a wider political witch-hunt aimed at silencing him for speaking the truth about the contract controversy. He reaffirmed his readiness to cooperate with investigators but insisted that he is being unfairly targeted.

The EFCC has yet to provide specific details of the allegations against Ogundele, though analysts suggest they may be linked to the Smart School project and other high-profile contracts handled by his company.

Observers say the unfolding scandal raises serious questions about transparency in Enugu’s procurement process and the accountability of both government officials and contractors. Civil society groups are already demanding a full investigation, not only into Sujimoto’s role but also into how the Mbah administration awarded and supervised such projects.

As pressure mounts, the case is now shaping into a three-way storm involving the contractor, the Enugu State Government, and the EFCC. With public anger growing and the credibility of key institutions at stake, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for governance, investment, and public trust in the region.