By A1NEWS International
ABUJA — The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the conviction and 490-year prison sentence imposed on former Managing Director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, confirming his culpability on all 49 counts of fraud prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC disclosed in a statement that the appellate court affirmed both the judgment and the sentence, bringing a definitive end—at least for now—to the case in the appellate stage and reinforcing the trial court’s findings that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Trial Court Convicted Orya on All 49 Counts in February 2026
According to court records cited by the EFCC, Orya was convicted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on February 5, 2026.
In the ruling, Justice F.E. Messiri held that Orya was guilty on all 49 counts, including allegations bordering on:
- obtaining money by false pretences,
- forgery, and
- advance fee fraud,
relating to transactions linked to N2.4 billion.
The EFCC said the prosecution established its case after calling seven witnesses during the trial.
490-Year Sentence: 10 Years on Each Count, Ordered to Run Concurrently
Following the conviction, the trial court sentenced Orya to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, which mathematically totals 490 years.
However, the court ordered the terms to run concurrently, a detail that affected how the sentence would be served in practice, even while the total of 490 years remained the headline figure.
Fraud Case Stems from NEXIM Bank Loans During Orya’s Tenure
The EFCC said Orya was arraigned in 2021 over allegations tied to fraudulent loans disbursed by NEXIM Bank during his tenure as managing director.
The commission maintained that the loans and related processes were connected to fraudulent conduct, which formed the backbone of the multi-count charges at trial.
Orya’s Tenure at NEXIM Bank
Robert Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was:
- appointed on August 14, 2009 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, and
- reappointed on August 18, 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
With today’s appellate confirmation, the Court of Appeal has upheld the FCT High Court’s conviction and sentence on all 49 fraud counts against Robert Orya. The ruling signifies that the appellate court agreed with the trial court’s assessment of evidence, leaving Orya’s legal challenge significantly reduced—though further legal options may still exist depending on subsequent filings and procedure.
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