A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has sentenced a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, to a cumulative 490 years’ imprisonment after convicting him on a 49-count charge bordering on a ₦2.4 billion fraud.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday, confirming that Orya, who headed NEXIM between 2011 and 2016, was found guilty on all counts preferred against him.
According to the anti-graft agency, Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court imposed a 10-year prison term on each of the 49 counts following the successful prosecution of the case by EFCC counsel, Samuel Ugwuegbulam.
The Commission stated that the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to Orya’s conviction and sentencing in relation to the alleged diversion and mismanagement of about ₦2.4 billion.
“Orya, who was prosecuted by EFCC’s Samuel Ugwuegbulam, was convicted by Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court, Abuja, and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 count charges,” the statement said.
The EFCC had accused Orya of fraudulently diverting funds amounting to about N2.4 billion during his tenure as managing director of NEXIM Bank.
The EFCC stated that Mr. Orya, while serving as Managing Director of the bank, incorporated a company, Luxurium Leisure Services Limited, used the names of non-existent persons and others without their consent, and proceeded to grant loans to the company which remained unpaid for years.
The EFCC said his offences contravened Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and were punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count one of the charges read: “That you, Mr. Roberts Orya, while being the Managing Director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), on or about September 21, 2011, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, induced Nigerian Export-Import Bank to pay to Treasure Mix Construction Limited the sum of Four Hundred and Eighty-eight Million Naira (₦488,000,000) as a loan under the pretence that the directors of Luxurium Leisure Services Limited applied for and were the beneficiaries of the said loan, which pretence you knew was false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Count four read: “That you, Mr. Roberts Orya, while being the Managing Director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), on or about February 19, 2013, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, induced Nigerian Export-Import Bank to pay to Treasure Mix Construction Limited the sum of Six Hundred and Thirty Million Naira (₦630,000,000) as a loan under the pretence that the directors of Luxurium Leisure Services Limited applied for and were the beneficiaries of the said loan, which pretence you knew was false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Robert Orya served as managing director of NEXIM Bank between 2011 and 2016.
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