The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday upheld the conviction and sentence of former Managing Director of Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya.
The appellate court dismissed Orya’s appeal and affirmed his conviction on all 49 counts by the FCT High Court. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each count, amounting to 490 years, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Orya served as NEXIM Bank’s Managing Director from 2009 to 2016. He was first appointed on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
Following his departure from office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Orya in 2021 on 49 counts involving allegations of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud amounting to N2.4 billion.
The FCT High Court in Abuja subsequently convicted him on February 5, 2026, and handed down a 490-year prison sentence, with the terms to run concurrently.
Unhappy with the decision of Justice F.E. Messiri, Orya approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to have his conviction overturned.
In its ruling, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, held that the trial judge was correct to convict Orya, finding that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Danjuma, who delivered the unanimous judgement alongside Justices Ntong Ntong and Ele Enenche, 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 court further held:
“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.
