The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the conviction and 490-year imprisonment handed down to former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma, leading a three-member panel comprising Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, delivered the unanimous judgment on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, dismissing Orya’s appeal for lacking merit and affirming the judgment of the FCT High Court.
Orya, who served as NEXIM Bank’s Managing Director from 2009 to 2016, was appointed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on August 14, 2009, and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
The former bank chief was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving N2.4 billion.
Dissatisfied with his conviction, Orya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the judgment of Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court, Abuja, who on February 5, 2026, found him guilty on all 49 counts.
Justice Messiri had held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced Orya to 10 years imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to 490 years. The sentences are, however, to run concurrently.
In dismissing the appeal, Justice Danjuma said the panel had considered the briefs filed by counsel and reviewed the record of the trial court, adding that all the issues raised by the appellant were resolved in favour of the respondent.
He consequently declared the appeal devoid of merit and affirmed the February 5 judgment of the FCT High Court.
