By Bimbo Adenrele
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the conviction of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over an alleged N2.4 billion fraud.
The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which convicted Orya on 49 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Orya was convicted by Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court on February 5, 2026, after the court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The EFCC had arraigned the former bank chief in 2021 over allegations relating to fraudulent loans allegedly disbursed by NEXIM Bank during his tenure.
In the course of the trial, the anti-graft agency called seven witnesses to establish its case against Orya.
Following his conviction, the trial court sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to a cumulative sentence of 490 years.
However, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
In its latest ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld both the conviction and sentence, leaving the judgment of the trial court intact.
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was first appointed to the position by former President Umaru Yar’Adua on August 14, 2009, and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
The appellate court’s decision marks a significant development in the long-running case arising from allegations of financial irregularities during Orya’s tenure at the export-import bank.
