The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the conviction and 490-year jail term handed to former Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) Managing Director, Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.
A three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, alongside Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, gave the unanimous ruling on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after dismissing Orya’s appeal.
Orya was convicted on February 5, 2026, by Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja. He was found guilty of 49 counts involving obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
The EFCC had charged him in 2021 over the alleged N2.4 billion offences.
In the lead judgment, Justice Danjuma said the panel reviewed the lawyers’ briefs and trial court records before resolving all issues against Orya.
The appellate court upheld the judgment and sentence in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021.
Justice Messiri had sentenced Orya to 10 years on each of the 49 counts, totalling 490 years, with the terms running concurrently.
Orya headed NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was first appointed on August 14, 2009, by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
