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A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously rejected Robert Orya’s appeal, ruling that it lacked merit to quash the 490-year prison sentence by the FCT High Court
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The former NEXIM Bank Managing Director was sentenced to 10 years on each of 49 counts, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
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Orya was found guilty of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud after the court held that the EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
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The appellate court upheld one of the commission’s major convictions involving a former chief executive of a federal financial institution.
September 09, (THEWILL) — The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the conviction and 490-year prison sentence handed down to former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, over a ₦2.4 billion fraud.
In a unanimous judgement delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma dismissed Orya’s appeal challenging the February 5, 2026 judgement of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, which convicted him on all 49 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Other members of the panel were Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche.
According to a statement issued by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Justice Danjuma held that the appeal was devoid of merit after reviewing the records of the trial court and the briefs filed by both parties.
“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 favour of the respondent and against the appellant.
“This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgement of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026, is hereby affirmed”, Justice Danjuma ruled.
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THEWILL reports that Orya was arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving ₦2.4 billion.
After a lengthy trial, Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court found him guilty on all 49 counts, holding that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt through documentary and oral evidence presented before the court.
The trial court subsequently sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, bringing the cumulative sentence to 490 years. However, the court ordered that all the prison terms run concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, Orya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn both his conviction and sentence, but the appellate court upheld the findings of the lower court in their entirety.
Robert Orya served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was appointed on August 14, 2009, by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and reappointed for a second term on August 18, 2014, by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
