President Bola Tinubu’s former South-East campaign spokesman, Denge Josef Onoh, has urged the self acclaimed Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths to exercise caution in its interventions over the ongoing dispute between the Enugu State Government and Mr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited.
The controversy surrounds an alleged failed contract linked to the company, whose CEO hails from the South-West. Ohanaeze renegade group had issued a statement calling on Ogundele to refund N5.7 billion to the Enugu State Government, branding him a “saboteur.”
Reacting, Onoh warned the group against inflaming ethnic sentiments, stressing that Ohanaeze has no statutory role in criminal investigations or the recovery of public funds.
He said:
“While your passion for accountability is commendable, Ohanaeze must apply wisdom and restraint. Publicly labeling Ogundele a ‘saboteur’ or demanding immediate surrender without judicial resolution risks prejudging the case and eroding public trust in our justice system.”
Onoh, however, commended the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide for urging Ogundele to cooperate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as a reflection of youths’ desire to protect public funds and see development projects delivered.
He stressed the importance of due process, noting:
“At the heart of any fair society is the presumption of innocence. Mr. Ogundele, like any citizen, remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He has assured me of his full cooperation with all relevant authorities and even submitted himself to the EFCC’s Enugu zonal command, which I personally escorted him to.”
According to Onoh, the EFCC’s ongoing probe involves allegations of fund diversion and money laundering relating to the N5.7–N11 billion Enugu Smart Schools project. He revealed that Ogundele has already been grilled for hours and placed under stringent bail conditions, with his accounts frozen to ensure compliance.
Onoh recalled the dangers of rushed ethnic profiling, warning that:
“By framing this as a settled fact of fraud, we inadvertently contribute to a narrative that could portray the matter as a Yoruba-Igbo clash, especially given Mr. Ogundele’s Yoruba heritage and the Enugu State context. This is unnecessary and counterproductive. Let the EFCC and the courts do their work.”
He also clarified that Ohanaeze’s mandate lies in cultural advocacy, not contract enforcement or quasi-judicial roles:
“Such overreach blurs the lines between advocacy and executive interference, potentially undermining the autonomy of state institutions. Ohanaeze’s strength lies in dialogue, not dictating contractor accountability.”
Onoh disclosed that he had earlier engaged Governor Peter Mbah to assure Ogundele’s cooperation with the EFCC, praising the governor’s transparency and commitment to ensuring no public funds are lost in the Smart Schools project.
He further cautioned:
“Nigeria’s fault lines are ethnic, and we Ndigbo know this better than most. By publicly backing the EFCC in a way that singles out an individual from another ethnic group, Ohanaeze risks fueling narratives of tribal witch-hunts. Our role should be to de-escalate, not amplify.”
Citing his own role as Tinubu’s former South-East spokesman, Onoh emphasized unity over division:
“As an Igbo man, I spoke and still speak for a Yoruba man, our President, not out of personal gain but for the vision of a united Nigeria. Ohanaeze Youth Council should retract or clarify their statement to emphasize support for institutional processes, not individual guilt.”
He concluded with a call for constructive focus:
“All stakeholders should channel energy into ensuring transparent contract bidding, supporting project completion, and demanding government accountability. Enugu’s Smart Schools are vital. Let justice flow steadily and impartially, untainted by haste or bias.”
