Sujimoto Speaks Out After EFCC Declares Him Wanted, Links Case to Contract Fallout with Gov. Peter Mbah

Popular real estate mogul, Sijibomi Ogundele, better known as Sujimoto, has broken his silence after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He insists he is “not a fugitive”, attributing the controversy to a failed contract deal with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, over fluctuating construction material costs.

Speaking on Saturday, Ogundele explained that his company was engaged by the Enugu State Government and local councils for a series of school and infrastructure projects. According to him, the venture expanded when Governor Mbah asked him to design ambitious projects, including a proposed 69-storey tower — billed as Nigeria’s tallest building.

“The local government asked me to help them build a couple of projects. In the middle of it, the governor said he wanted to build a city and a 69-storey building. While waiting for that, he asked me to take on the schools, promising I would recover costs from bigger projects,” Sujimoto recounted.

He said he mobilized 42 engineers to Enugu, rented a residence, and committed resources to the projects despite personal challenges, including a serious back injury from an accident. However, rising material costs soon crippled progress.

“When we took the contract, cement was ₦7,000. By the time we left, it was ₦10,000. The pricing made the project impossible. I told the governor this from the start,” he said.

Ogundele also claimed his staff faced security threats while working in remote communities, including incidents of gunmen attacking them.

As relations with the government soured, he said the matter was dragged to court. Despite efforts to reach an amicable settlement, tensions escalated, with allegations, demolition of his property, and now the EFCC declaring him wanted.

“I was at the site till the last day. I told the government, let’s agree — how much do we owe you? But instead, they destroyed my building. I’m not running. I will go to the EFCC office and clear my name,” he vowed.

Ogundele maintained that inflation, skyrocketing construction costs, and project delays were responsible for the fallout, stressing that he remains committed to honoring his obligations.

The EFCC is yet to respond to his claims.