Ogundele, who was declared wanted by the EFCC over alleged money la¥ndering and diversion of funds, released a video insisting he was not guilty and ready to clear his name.
In a statement, Commissioner for Information, Malachy Agbo, said: “The Enugu State Government paid the sum of N5,762,565,475.25, representing 50 per cent of the contract sum, in order to fast-track the projects at all the sites.”
He alleged that Ogundele abandoned the projects, used “inexperienced workers and quack engineers,” and failed to meet standards: “None of his sites met the structural integrity of the projects as specified in the structural drawing.”
Agbo added: “All efforts made by the government to get him to a roundtable to discuss the quality and progress of work proved abortive… In fact, he practically abandoned the sites, leaving the Enugu State Government with no other choice than to petition the EFCC to recover the funds paid to him.”
Following a joint inspection with the EFCC in May 2025, the government said little or no work had been done and accused Ogundele of diverting funds despite securing the contract with a Jaiz Bank bond. “This clearly shows a premeditated intent to defra¥d the state ab initio,” Agbo said.
Dismissing his public defence, the state concluded: “Nigerians should therefore disregard his theatrics and crocodile tears, as Enugu State Government is determined to and will surely recover every penny of Ndi Enugu fraudulently obtained by Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele (Sujimoto).”