The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the conviction of former Nigeria Export-Import Bank Managing Director, Robert Orya, in connection with a ₦2.4 billion fraud case. A three-judge panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma dismissed Orya’s appeal, ruling that it lacked substance and upholding the earlier verdict delivered by the FCT High Court.
Orya faced prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after being arraigned in 2021 on 49 counts. The charges bordered on obtaining money under false pretences, forgery, and advance fee fraud. At trial, the lower court found him guilty on all counts and imposed a 10-year jail term for each offence, amounting to an aggregate of 490 years behind bars.
Despite the staggering total, the court directed that the prison terms run concurrently. This means Orya will effectively serve 10 years instead of the full 490, since all the sentences will be served at the same time rather than consecutively. The ruling was intended to reflect the gravity of each offence while aligning with sentencing practice.
Unsatisfied with the High Court’s decision, Orya approached the appellate court seeking to overturn both his conviction and punishment. However, Justice Danjuma, delivering judgment, held that the grounds raised in the appeal failed and were resolved against him. Consequently, the appellate court dismissed the case and endorsed the trial court’s findings in full.
Orya headed NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016. He was first appointed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and later reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan. The EFCC’s successful prosecution marks one of the high-profile convictions linked to financial misconduct at the export-import bank during his tenure.
Appeal Court Upholds 490-Year Sentence for Ex-NEXIM Bank MD Robert Orya Over ₦2.4 Billion Fraud
