Enugu smart schools probe widens as Sujimoto faces N5.7bn allegations

Enugu’s flagship Smart Green Schools programme has been plunged into a public procurement and criminal-investigation row after the Enugu State Government and civic leaders said about N5.7 billion paid to Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd. for 22 schools was not properly accounted for — a dispute that has drawn the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sharp public criticism.

What happened? (facts and timeline)

The controversy centres on a contract reportedly awarded in July 2024 for the construction of 22 out of 260 Smart Green Schools. Enugu’s information officials say the total value of those 22 contracts was roughly N11.46 billion, and the state paid about 50 per cent (≈N5.76bn) as mobilisation to Sujimoto — payments the state now says were not followed by acceptable delivery or structural integrity at sites. allAfrica.com+1

Enugu State Patriots, a local civic group, accused the firm’s CEO, Olasijibomi (Sijibomi) Ogundele (Sujimoto), of emotional theatrics and urged him to “return Enugu State’s money,” while the state government has accused the company of using an unauthorised account to receive funds and of delivering substandard work. The group’s statement and the government’s rebuttal were published in successive media releases this week.

The EFCC has since entered the picture. Investigative reporting indicates the anti-graft agency has declared the Sujimoto CEO wanted and moved for orders to detain and question him over alleged diversion of the funds — reports say investigators may also pursue asset seizure as part of recovery actions. Sujimoto has denied criminal intent and says the matter is a contract dispute aggravated by inflation and logistics challenges; he has also recorded a public video denying he is a fugitive and saying he will present himself to investigators.

Claims and counterclaims
Enugu officials, via the Commissioner for Information, say the firm was paid into an account different from the bond-issuing bank (complicating recourse), and that many sites fail structural checks and contract specifications. Sujimoto’s public responses acknowledge delays and cost pressures (rising cement and material prices, security incidents at some sites) but insist they were acting in good faith and that the dispute is not criminal but contractual. Critics — including rival contractors who are completing other Smart Schools — dispute Sujimoto’s cost and work-done figures and say photographic evidence and ministry reports show scant progress at many sites.

Why this matters now

Enugu’s administration has made Smart Schools a signature project, allocating an unusually high share of its budget to education. The row threatens the timeline for facility delivery ahead of planned term openings, risks public funds recovery disputes that will slow construction, and raises broader questions about procurement transparency and contractor vetting for large-scale state education projects. The debate has also spilled into public discourse around fairness and regional/ethnic sentiment because some critics questioned awarding a large tranche of the work to an out-of-state contractor — a point the governor’s supporters rejected as petty.

What to watch next

1. EFCC action and court process. Will investigators secure detention orders, press charges, or move quickly to asset recovery? Early reporting suggests the EFCC has legal avenues open and is pursuing evidence. Sahara Reporters
2. Project recovery and completion. Enugu government statements say unfinished sites will be reassigned to other contractors and that delivery remains a priority ahead of school resumption; monitor whether reassignment speeds or delays completion. Vanguard News
3. Procurement and audit responses. Expect calls for parliamentary or audit committee reviews of how the contracts were awarded and managed — and whether contract management controls (payment windows, performance bonds, escrow arrangements) were enforced. Premium Times Nigeria

What this implies for education and public finance

If investigations confirm diversion or serious contractual breaches, Enugu faces the double hit of delayed education infrastructure and political fallout over large-scale budget allocations. For education stakeholders — parents, headteachers and state education planners — the immediate worry is that promised modern classrooms, labs and tech hubs will be late or incomplete, undermining plans for curriculum upgrades tied to the Smart Schools. If the EFCC recovers funds, the state may need to retender the works; if it does not, taxpayers may be left with stalled sites and little recourse. Conversely, if the allegations are primarily procurement missteps rather than fraud, the episode may trigger stronger procurement controls that could reduce future risk but slow rollout timelines.

Bottom line

The Enugu smart schools controversy has moved from a construction dispute to a high-stakes probe involving anti-graft agencies, civic pressure groups and national media. The next few weeks — court filings, EFCC statements, and any forensic audits — will determine whether this becomes a recoverable procurement failure, a criminal prosecution, or both. Education delivery in the affected communities hangs in the balance while the legal and political processes unfold.