The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has upheld the conviction and 490-year jail term handed to a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, over a ₦2.4 billion fraud.
A three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, sitting alongside Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, unanimously dismissed Orya’s appeal on Tuesday, affirming the judgment delivered by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on February 5, 2026.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Danjuma said the panel had reviewed all briefs filed by counsel alongside the trial court’s records, and resolved every issue raised in the appeal against Orya. He held that the appeal lacked merit and was accordingly dismissed, with the High Court’s judgment fully affirmed.
Orya had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2021 on a 49-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud, running into ₦2.4 billion.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court had earlier found him guilty on all 49 counts, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count, adding up to 490 years, though the terms are to run concurrently.
Orya served as NEXIM’s Managing Director between 2009 and 2016. He was first appointed to the role on August 14, 2009, by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
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