Olasijibomi Ogundele, CEO of Sujimoto Luxury Construction, has spoken out following the EFCC’s declaration of him as wanted over alleged diversion of funds and money laundering
In an emotional video, Ogundele denied the allegations, insisting he is neither a thief nor a fugitive. Tearfully recounting his experience, he said: “I’m not a thief and I’m not a fugitive.
This is a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. Enugu State Government asked me to help them build a couple of projects, which were very interesting. I was going to the state every week.”
He explained that during the project, the government requested the construction of a 69-story building, which he designed, while also asking him to complete several schools. “I was very, I’ve never done this type of school before, but I knew it was cement and concrete and machinery. I said, okay, let me give it a try,” he said.
Ogundele described the challenges he faced, including rising costs: “When we took the contract, cement was 7,000. By the time we left, cement was 10,000. I faced a lot of people. Sometimes we were in the villages. My staff had been shot at, sometimes they brought guns and shot at them. I was still there. But at the end of the day, I was there.”
He revealed that tensions eventually arose with the state government: “Things went sour between myself and the government. If I had money, I would continue the project, but I had my other projects. They took me to court, and I said, okay, let’s look at the entire project, how much have we spent. Till the last day I was in the project, I was there. They didn’t ask me that, how much have we spent, and now they declared me wanted, they destroyed my company and built me.”
Ogundele affirmed his commitment to clearing his name: “I’m going to go there, I’m going to the office, I’m going to go and clear my name. In the last two, three years, prices have just gone crazy. If I was doing my project, it would be delayed five years, something I could have done in three years.”
The EFCC has urged anyone with information about him to come forward. Ogundele’s company is known for high-profile projects in Lagos, including developments on Banana Island and Ikoyi, and the declaration has raised concerns about the future of his business.
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My prayers are with him 🙏🏻