The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Olasiijbomi Suji Ogundele, has dismissed allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), insisting he is not guilty of fraud.
Ogundele, who was recently declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over alleged diversion of funds, said the matter was purely a contract dispute with the Enugu State Government and not criminal conduct.
In a video obtained by Naija Metro News, he explained: “The Enugu state government had given his company a contract to build schools, but cost overruns.
“The project cancelled and we have to give them some refunds. About 1b. For this. They have used EFCC to declare me wanted,” he said in tears.
He added: “In the middle of the project, I was going to Enugu every week, and the governor said he wanted to build the tallest building in Nigeria, a 69-storey building.
“I designed it and he gave it to me. But the cost of production skyrocketed, and a bag of cement, which was selling at the rate of N7,000, went up to N10,000. I will sort it out. I will go and meet them.”
The luxury developer stressed that the controversy revolves around a refund of about N1 billion arising from the terminated project, not embezzlement or money laundering as claimed by the EFCC.
While the EFCC maintains its allegations against him, the Enugu State Government has not issued any public statement regarding the disputed contract.
