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The Enugu State Government has officially received ₦1.28 billion recovered from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Ltd., following investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the alleged misappropriation of funds intended for the construction of Smart Green Schools across the state.
The recovered funds, part of payments made for projects that were either abandoned or largely unexecuted, were handed over on Wednesday at the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office. The restitution was made through a combination of bank drafts and cheques, according to a statement from Governor Peter Mbah’s media office.
EFCC Enugu Zonal Director, Daniel Ise, explained that the recovery was part of the Commission’s mandate to trace, recover, and return public funds lost to economic and financial crimes.
“As of today, we have recovered drafts totaling ₦1,234,350,000 and an additional ₦50,000,000, bringing the total recovery to ₦1,284,350,000 for the benefit of the Enugu State Government,” Ise said.
He noted that the recovery followed a petition from the state government and credited the progress to the diligence and professionalism of EFCC investigators. However, he emphasized that the handover does not mark the end of the case, assuring that investigations will continue until all aspects of the petition are fully examined and any further unaccounted funds are recovered.
Ise also warned contractors handling public projects to strictly comply with the law, particularly the Public Procurement Act, stressing that accountability in government contracts is non-negotiable.
Receiving the funds on behalf of the state, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, praised the EFCC for its professionalism and resilience amid public distractions surrounding the case.
“This recovery reflects our administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible use of public funds. The recovered money will be reinvested in critical infrastructure projects to improve the welfare of residents,” Onyia said.
He added that the state government approached the EFCC after noticing a misalignment between developmental objectives and project delivery, reaffirming that investigations are ongoing and that all defaulting contractors will be held accountable.
