The Enugu State Patriots have backed the EFCC and state government in moves to recover ₦5.7bn from Sujimoto Construction over abandoned Smart Green Schools projects, faulting claims of ₦4bn expenditure
Contract Scandal: ‘Clean Your Crocodile Tears, Return ₦5.7bn Now’ – Enugu Patriots Slam Sujimoto
The Enugu State Patriots, a coalition of leaders across political and professional divides, has declared support for the joint efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Enugu State Government to recover ₦5.7 billion allegedly paid to Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited for the construction of 22 Smart Green Schools.
The projects were part of the 260 Smart Green Schools initiated by the Mbah administration to revolutionise education in the state.
The group faulted claims by Sujimoto CEO, Olasijibomi Suji Ogundele, that his firm had spent ₦4 billion on the projects before the contract was terminated in February 2025 at the expiration of the agreed timeline.
According to the Patriots, evidence from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, backed by pictures and videos of the sites as of May 2025, showed otherwise.
“Sujimoto could not have spent up to ₦600 million on the shambolic work he did at the entire 22 sites before they were recovered by government,” the group said in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Prof. Mathiine Anikwe.
The group also dismissed Ogundele’s insistence that the company received only ₦5.2 billion instead of ₦5.7 billion, accusing him of attempting to “discountenance the company’s Value Added Tax (VAT) and other tax obligations.”
“No one can blame the government for awarding the contract to Sujimoto, given its projects in Lagos. But having failed to show value for money here, we advise Ogundele to clean his crocodile tears and return the money to Ndi Enugu,” Anikwe added.
The Patriots stressed that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration had prioritized education, allocating over 30% of the 2024 budget and 33% of the 2025 budget to the sector — with the Smart Green Schools project at the heart of this investment.
Meanwhile, other contractors handling similar school projects praised the government’s system, affirming that they were on track to deliver their assignments according to standards and schedule. Read More
