Follow Us on Google
From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Tuesday affirmed the conviction and 490-year imprisonment handed down to former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma, who led a three-member panel of the appellate court, affirmed the judgment of Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, which convicted Orya on 49 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
Orya was convicted and sentenced to 490 years imprisonment on Thursday, February 5, 2026, following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former NEXIM Bank boss was arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 on the 49-count charge involving alleged fraudulent transactions totalling N2.4 billion.
Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, Orya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn his conviction and sentence.
However, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, Justice Danjuma, alongside Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
Other News
Justice Danjuma said: “I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court and adopted it and the issues as formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal.
“I looked at each and every issue and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favour of the respondent and against the appellant.
“This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026 in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.”
The trial judge, Justice Messiri, had earlier held that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found Orya guilty on all 49 counts.
The judge sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to 490 years. The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
