THE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Tuesday affirmed the conviction and sentence of former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.
News Point Nigeria reports that the appellate court dismissed Orya’s appeal and affirmed his conviction on all 49 counts by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja. He had been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to a cumulative 490 years, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The judgment was delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, alongside Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, in a unanimous decision. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday.
Orya served as the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 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.
After leaving office, Orya was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion.
He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 490 years’ imprisonment on February 5, 2026, by the FCT High Court, Abuja, after being found guilty on all 49 counts. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning the effective custodial term is 10 years.
Dissatisfied with the judgment of Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court, Orya approached the appellate court for reprieve, asking it to set aside his conviction.
Delivering their judgment on Tuesday, the three-man panel ruled that the trial judge was right in finding him guilty, holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt.
Justice Danjuma, who led Justices Ntong and Enenche in the unanimous judgment, 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 judgement 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 appellate court’s decision therefore leaves in place the conviction and sentence imposed by the FCT High Court on the former NEXIM Bank boss.