Governor Peter Mbah has assured that all funds tied to the controversial Sujimoto Smart School contract will be fully recovered, following the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Speaking during a media briefing in Enugu on Tuesday, Mbah confirmed that the EFCC-led probe had begun yielding results, with some funds already returning to the state treasury.

“I know some funds have started coming in. And I have no doubt, the way the case has been managed by the EFCC, that the state will fully recover all the funds that are due,” he said.

The governor rejected claims that the smart school project contracts were awarded through favouritism, stressing that the process was transparent and guided by merit.

He dismissed assertions by Chief Nnaji that indigenous contractors were sidelined, insisting that the majority of those engaged were Enugu citizens.

“In fact, if you look at the statistics, more than 80 per cent of the contractors handling the smart school projects are people from Enugu State or residents here. We were quite objective in our selection,” Mbah explained.

He noted that the urgency of the project required contractors with the technical and financial capacity to deliver under tight deadlines.

“We had to consider contractors capable of fast-track delivery because these projects required both skill and resources to meet our schedule,” he said.

Mbah emphasised that due diligence was applied throughout the process, adding that the state government was open to scrutiny.

“Anyone who is interested can probe further. We can make the list of contractors public to show that over 80 per cent are from Enugu,” he stated.

Acknowledging that challenges could arise in projects of such magnitude, the governor assured that mechanisms were in place to ensure no public funds were lost.

“No matter how careful you are, issues can still occur. What is important is that we have the institutions capable of ensuring that every kobo belonging to the state is recovered,” he said.

The EFCC launched an inquiry into the Sujimoto Smart School contract following concerns over alleged mismanagement and inflated costs.

The Enugu State Government maintains that the initiative remains a key component of its education reform plan aimed at modernising infrastructure and improving learning outcomes across the state.