The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the conviction and sentence of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, who was sentenced to a cumulative 490 years’ imprisonment over a ₦2.4 billion fraud.
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A three-member panel of the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, dismissed Orya’s appeal and upheld the February 5, 2026 judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which found him guilty on all 49 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma, who delivered the lead judgment, held that all the issues raised by Orya for determination were resolved against him and in favour of the EFCC.
“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,” Justice Danjuma said.
“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 judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026, in Charge No. FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.”
Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche concurred with the judgment.
Orya had approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn his conviction after Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court convicted him on February 5, 2026, on 49 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and advance fee fraud involving about ₦2.4 billion.
The EFCC had arraigned the former bank chief in 2021.
At the conclusion of the trial, Justice Messiri held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found Orya guilty on all 49 counts.
The trial court sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting cumulatively to 490 years.
The sentences were, however, ordered to run concurrently, meaning the prison terms are to be served at the same time rather than consecutively.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Orya appealed, asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the conviction and sentence.
The appellate court, however, found no merit in his arguments and affirmed the trial court’s judgment in its entirety.
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was first appointed on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
With Tuesday’s judgment, the Court of Appeal has left intact both Orya’s conviction on the 49 counts and the sentences imposed by the FCT High Court.
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