Rep. Member Backs Enugu State over Alleged Contract Breach, Urges EFCC to Recover N5.7bn from Contractor

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja 

The leader of Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives, and member representing Nkanu East & West Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji has lent his support to the Enugu State Government which is currently embroiled in an alleged contract breach with Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited for the construction of 22 smart school buildings in the state.

According to the state, the contract was awarded on July 2, 2024, for a total sum of N11,457,930,950.52, covering the construction of 22 Smart Schools, for which it paid N5.7 billion to Sujimoto, being half of the contract sum. 

The contractor allegedly abandoned the project after collecting 50 per cent of the contract sum.

In an interview yesterday,   Nnaji, took a swipe at the Chief Executive Officer of the contracting company, Mr Olasijibomi Ogundele, for allegedly defrauding the Enugu State Government of N5.7 billion. 

According to the lawmaker, Ogundele’s company was awarded a contract to construct 22 smart school buildings across the state on July 2, 2024, worth N11,457,930,950.52, with a completion period of six months. 

However, he lamented that after collecting 50 per cent of the contract sum, amounting to N5,762,565,475.25, Ogundele allegedly failed to fulfill his obligations.

Nnaji described Ogundele’s actions as “highly irresponsible” and accused him of betraying the trust of the Enugu State Government. 

He urged the EFCC to recover every kobo paid to Ogundele’s company, adding that Ogundele’s actions appeared to be a premeditated fraud, as he presented a Jaiz Bank guarantee and requested payment through his company’s Zenith Bank account.

“It is highly regrettable to observe that a company that prides itself as highly reputable will engage in such manipulative tendency to scam Enugu State Government. “l urge the government to ensure that the money is recovered with compensation for the company’s failure to fulfill its obligations of delivering the projects ahead of the schools’ resumption this September,” the lawmaker said.

Nnaji’s stated that his  stance on the matter reflects his commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in government dealings, particularly in projects