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, on all 49 counts of fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development was disclosed by the EFCC in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the EFCC, the appellate court affirmed Orya’s conviction and sentence to 490 years in prison.
Orya was convicted and sentenced by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on February 5, 2026, after Justice F.E. Messiri found him guilty on all 49 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving N2.4 billion.
The EFCC had arraigned Orya in 2021 over allegations relating to fraudulent loans disbursed by NEXIM Bank during his tenure as managing director.
Justice Messiri held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt after calling seven witnesses during the trial.
The court subsequently sentenced Orya to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to 490 years. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
Orya served as NEXIM Bank’s managing director from 2009 to 2016. He was appointed to the position by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on August 14, 2009, and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
It not however clear if the former bank manager would challenge the ruling at the supreme court.
