RismadarVoice Reporters
September 8, 2026
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the conviction and 490-year prison sentence imposed on former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma, who led a three-member panel of the appellate court, delivered the unanimous judgment on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Other members of the panel were Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche.
Orya had been convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on February 5, 2026, after being found guilty of all 49 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges bordered on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving N2.4 billion.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the former bank chief appealed to the Court of Appeal, seeking to have the conviction overturned.
In its judgment, the appellate court held that the grounds of appeal lacked merit and affirmed the decision of the trial court.
Justice Danjuma said the panel had reviewed the briefs filed by the parties as well as the records of proceedings from the lower court before reaching its decision.
He said all the issues raised by Orya in the appeal were resolved in favour of the EFCC and against the appellant.
The court consequently dismissed the appeal and affirmed the February 5, 2026 judgment of the FCT High Court in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court had earlier ruled that the prosecution established its case against Orya beyond reasonable doubt.
The court found him guilty on all 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to 490 years.
The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.
Orya was originally arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 following allegations of financial crimes relating to the N2.4 billion transaction.
Orya served as NEXIM Bank’s Managing Director between 2009 and 2016.
He was first appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He was subsequently reappointed on August 18, 2014, by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
