The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured a landmark conviction against Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), after a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja found him guilty of fraud involving about ₦2.4 billion. Justice F.E. Messiri delivered the judgment on Thursday, February 5, 2026, sentencing Orya to ten years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts on which he was convicted, resulting in a cumulative term of 490 years.
Orya, who led NEXIM Bank between 2011 and 2016, was arraigned by the EFCC in November 2021 on a comprehensive 49-count indictment that included offences such as fraud, abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds, criminal breach of trust, impersonation, and official corruption. The prosecution, led by EFCC counsel Samuel Ugwuegbulam, presented evidence showing how Orya allegedly abused his position to divert bank funds through fraudulent transactions and false representations.
In the course of the trial, the EFCC argued that Orya orchestrated schemes to secure loans and payments using forged documents and fictitious company structures, thereby misusing funds entrusted to him as the head of a federal financial institution. Among the highlighted counts were allegations that Orya induced NEXIM Bank to pay hundreds of millions of naira to entities that were not legitimate beneficiaries, actions the court found were carried out with intent to defraud.
Although the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently — meaning Orya will serve a maximum of 10 years behind bars — the severity of the cumulative term underscores the seriousness of the offences. The judgement represents one of the most significant anti-corruption victories against a former banking chief in recent Nigerian history and reflects the EFCC’s intensified efforts to hold high-ranking officials accountable for financial crimes.
The conviction concludes a lengthy legal battle that began with Orya’s arraignment more than four years ago and has drawn widespread public attention. The EFCC has emphasised that the outcome sends a clear message that financial misconduct and abuse of public office will be met with decisive legal consequences.
