By Stephen Simon
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the conviction of former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, unanimously dismissed Orya’s appeal challenging the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
Other members of the panel were Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche.
Delivering the lead judgment on Tuesday, Justice Danjuma held that the appeal lacked merit after considering the briefs filed by counsel and reviewing the records of the trial court. He subsequently affirmed the judgment delivered by Justice F.E. Messiri on February 5, 2026.
Orya was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he was arraigned in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving N2.4 billion.
The trial court found him guilty on all 49 counts after holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Messiri subsequently sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, bringing the cumulative sentence to 490 years.
The sentences, however, were ordered to run concurrently, meaning Orya is effectively required to serve 10 years rather than 490 years.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the former bank chief approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn both his conviction and sentence. His challenge has now been rejected, with the appellate court upholding the findings of the lower court.
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was first appointed to the position by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on August 14, 2009, and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
In dismissing the appeal, Justice Danjuma said the issues raised by Orya were resolved against him and in favour of the respondent. The court consequently affirmed the February 5 judgment of the FCT High Court, bringing another stage of the long-running fraud case to a close.
