ABUJA — The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has affirmed the conviction and 490-year prison sentence imposed on former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N24 billion fraud case.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, with Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, delivered a unanimous judgment on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, dismissing Orya’s appeal for lacking merit
Orya was convicted and sentenced on February 5, 2026, by Justice FE. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, after being found guilty on 49 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Orya in 2021 over the alleged offences involving N24 billion.
Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, Orya approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to have his conviction and sentence overturned
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Danjuma said the panel had considered the briefs filed by counsel and examined the records of the trial court before resolving all the issues raised in favour of the respondent and against the appellant
The court held that the appeal was devoid of merit and dismissed it
Justice Danjuma consequently affirmed the judgment of the FCT High Court delivered on February 5, 2026, in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021
At the trial court, Justice Messiri had held that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Orya guilty on all 49 counts
The judge sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to 490 years
The sentences, however, are to run concurrently
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016 He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.