The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday interrogated the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, over an alleged diversion of N5.7 billion belonging to Enugu State.

Ogundele was quizzed for several hours at the commission’s Abuja office, with indications he could be detained as the session continued into the night.

Investigators also froze his personal and company accounts pending the outcome of a preliminary probe.

The matter is tied to a contract worth over N11 billion awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government. While the government initially approved a 30 percent mobilisation, Ogundele reportedly requested 50 percent to fast-track completion. The state released N5.7 billion based on this plea.

However, authorities later alleged that the value of work delivered was only about N750 million. They also accused the contractor of abandoning the site and evading responsibility, prompting a formal petition to the EFCC.

Following his alleged failure to honour invitations, Ogundele was declared wanted. Before he appeared, EFCC operatives and state officials visited the project site for inspection.

A source at the anti-graft agency confirmed his surrender. “He has been with us for more than 10 hours. We have frozen all accounts linked to him and his company and seized his passport to restrict movement,” the source said, adding that Ogundele had not been granted bail.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, also confirmed that investigators were still questioning the developer as of Tuesday.

In reaction, Ogundele released a video insisting he was innocent. Tearfully, he described the matter as a contractual disagreement with the Enugu State Government rather than a criminal case.

“I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This was a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. I was going there every week to work on the project,” he said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has cautioned Nigerians against relying on online loan applications, describing them as “agents of the devil in covenant with the spirit of debt.”

Delivering his sermon on Sunday in Abuja, Enenche expressed worry over the rising cases of depression and suicide reportedly linked to the operations of loan platforms nationwide.

According to him, many Nigerians are lured by promises of quick financial relief but end up trapped in cycles of harassment and humiliation.

“Once they fall into the trap, they face constant intimidation and embarrassment, which sometimes leads to depression or even suicide,” he told the congregation.

The cleric explained that borrowers often endure persistent calls, threats, and messages from lenders. He added that some platforms go as far as publishing defamatory statements and fake obituaries online to shame debtors.

Enenche urged Christians to resist the temptation of easy money, warning that such shortcuts were spiritually destructive. He said: “These things are demonic covenants with debt, and no child of God should have anything to do with them.”

His remarks come at a time when online loan providers in Nigeria face mounting criticism over alleged privacy violations and aggressive debt recovery tactics.

The Presidency has issued a stern warning to the public following the immediate dismissal of Fegho John Umunubo, who served as the Special Assistant to the President on Digital and Creative Economy in the Office of the Vice President.

Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Presidency, confirmed the separation in a statement on Monday. He emphasized that Umunubo no longer represents the administration in any capacity.

“Stakeholders and constituents of the digital and creative economy, at home and abroad, as well as the general public, are hereby notified that Fegho John Umunubo … has been disengaged with immediate effect.”
Oladunjoye added: “Henceforth, anyone interfacing with him in the name of President Tinubu’s administration does so at his or her own risk. We urge all stakeholders and constituents of the digital and creative economy to be so guided.”

More to come…