By Emiola Osifeso
Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, has broken his silence after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted over allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering.
In a video circulated online, Ogundele appeared visibly shaken and tearful as he rejected the fraud allegations, insisting that the controversy stemmed from a contractual fallout with the Enugu State Government. “I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This is a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government,” he said. “The Enugu State Government asked me to help them build a couple of things, which was very interesting. I was going to the state every week.”
Ogundele explained that the original project scope was significantly altered midway when the government decided to pursue a much more ambitious development. According to him, the governor requested the construction of “a city” and directed him to embark on Nigeria’s tallest building, a proposed 69-storey tower. He said this expansion fundamentally changed the nature of the contract and introduced new delays, costs, and legal complications. “In the middle of the project, the governor said he wanted to build a city, and he wanted to build the tallest building in Nigeria,” he recalled. “I was in agreement with the government after they took us to court. Now they declared me wanted, they destroyed my company that I built. I am going to the EFCC office to clear my name.”
The developer blamed inflation and Nigeria’s economic instability for slowing down work, stressing that he had no intention of abandoning the project or diverting funds. He pointed out that the last five years have seen unprecedented cost increases across the building sector. “In the last five years, prices have gone crazy; something I could have done in two years was delayed,” he lamented. He noted that cement prices, for example, had jumped drastically from about ₦7,000 per bag to over ₦10,000, while steel, granite, and other raw materials skyrocketed beyond projections.
According to Ogundele, Sujimoto mobilised over 40 engineers and relocated teams to Enugu to begin work, investing heavily in site operations and logistics despite rising challenges. He described the project as “a vision to redefine Nigeria’s skyline,” but said the delays and legal disputes with the government created an impression that the company had defaulted. “They destroyed my company that I built,” he repeated tearfully. “But I am ready to face the EFCC and clear my name.”
On Friday, the EFCC had published a wanted notice signed by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, calling on members of the public with information on Ogundele’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide. The notice identified him as a 44-year-old indigene of Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State, with his last known address at G29, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. Although the anti-graft agency did not disclose the sum allegedly involved in the case, it confirmed that Ogundele is under investigation for major financial crimes.
This latest scandal is not the first time the Sujimoto boss has been embroiled in controversy. In October 2024, Ogundele was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja following a petition by human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi. The petition accused him of obtaining $325,000 from one Kabiru Ibrahim under false pretences. According to the claims, the money was paid as a 50 per cent advance for a three-bedroom flat in a proposed estate. However, it was later discovered that no such housing project existed under Sujimoto at the time. Ogundele was released after interrogation, but the episode dented his public image and cast doubts around his business operations.
Despite the new EFCC declaration, Ogundele insisted that his track record speaks for itself and that the allegations are unfair. He argued that Sujimoto has delivered multiple luxury developments across Lagos and earned a reputation for pushing architectural boundaries in Nigeria. In his defence, he suggested that the Enugu project was a victim of poor planning, unrealistic expectations, and shifting demands from the state government, not evidence of fraud. “This is a contract matter, not a criminal matter,” he emphasised. “The government took us to court, and we were in agreement to settle. Suddenly, they declared me wanted.”
Observers note that the EFCC’s move marks one of the most high-profile crackdowns on a Nigerian developer in recent years, putting Sujimoto, once celebrated as a symbol of ambition and luxury living under intense scrutiny. Industry insiders say the fallout could determine not only the future of the brand but also broader investor confidence in Nigeria’s real estate market, where trust and transparency remain persistent concerns.
For now, Ogundele says he is ready to face investigators directly and defend his reputation. “I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive,” he said again, his voice breaking. “I will face this and clear my name.”
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