Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Roberts Orya, to a cumulative 490 years’ imprisonment for bank fraud involving N2.4 billion.
Orya, who was convicted on Thursday, was arraigned in 2021 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
One of the charges revealed that while serving as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Orya fraudulently induced the bank to disburse N488 million to Treasuremix Construction Limited on September 21, 2011, under the false claim that the loan was applied for and meant for Luxurium Leisure Services Limited.
The court held that he knew the claim was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another count showed that on February 19, 2013, he similarly induced the bank to release N630 million to the same company under false pretences, again claiming that Luxurium Leisure Services Limited was the loan beneficiary.
Orya pleaded not guilty to all charges, leading to a full trial. During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Samuel Ugwuebulam, called seven witnesses whose testimonies the court found sufficient in establishing the defendant’s culpability.
In his judgment, Justice Messiri held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Orya guilty on all 49 counts.
He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, bringing the total sentence to 490 years. The court, however, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016. He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was reappointed on August 18, 2014, by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
