The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the conviction and 490-year prison sentence imposed on former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion bank fraud case.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma, who led a three-member panel comprising Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, delivered the unanimous judgment on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Orya had challenged the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, which convicted him 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 N2.4 billion.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court subsequently found him guilty on all 49 counts after holding that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The trial court imposed a 10-year prison sentence on each count, amounting to 490 years. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Orya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the conviction and sentence.
However, in its ruling on Tuesday, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
Justice Danjuma said, “I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court and adopted it and the issues as formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal. I looked at each and every issue and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favor of the respondent and against the appellant.
“This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026 in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.”
Orya served as NEXIM Bank’s Managing Director between 2009 and 2016.
He was first appointed to the position by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on August 14, 2009, and was subsequently reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
