Court upholds 490-year sentence for ex-NEXIM Bank boss

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the conviction of former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.

A three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma unanimously dismissed Orya’s appeal against the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which sentenced him to a cumulative 490 years in prison.

Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche were also members of the panel.

According to a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the appellate court found no merit in Orya’s appeal and affirmed the judgment delivered by Justice F.E. Messiri on February 5, 2026.

Justice Danjuma said the panel had reviewed the records of the trial court and the submissions of counsel before resolving all the issues raised in favour of the EFCC and against Orya.

“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 judge ruled.

The EFCC had charged Orya in 2021 with 49 counts involving obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud in connection with N2.4 billion.

After trial, the FCT High Court found him guilty on all 49 counts, holding that the prosecution had established the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Messiri subsequently imposed a 10-year prison term on each count, bringing the total sentence to 490 years. The terms, however, are to run concurrently.

Orya challenged both his conviction and sentence before the Court of Appeal, seeking to have the trial court’s decision overturned.

The appellate court, after considering the arguments and evidence before it, rejected the challenge and affirmed the lower court’s verdict.

Orya headed NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was first appointed managing director on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in August 2014.