The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the conviction and 490-year prison sentence handed down to former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case, CDA News Nigeria reports.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that a three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, alongside Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, delivered a unanimous judgment on Tuesday dismissing Orya’s appeal for lacking merit and affirming the decision of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Orya in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud linked to fraudulent loans disbursed by NEXIM Bank during his tenure.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court had, on February 5, 2026, found Orya guilty on all 49 counts after the prosecution called seven witnesses and proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing him to 10 years on each count, amounting to 490 years, though the terms were ordered to run concurrently.
Dissatisfied, Orya approached the Court of Appeal, but the appellate panel held that all issues raised in his appeal were resolved in favour of the EFCC.
Orya served as NEXIM Bank’s Managing Director from 2009 to 2016, first appointed by late President Umaru Yar’Adua and reappointed in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
It remains unclear whether he will challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.
CDA News Nigeria will provide updates as this story develops.
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