The Court of Appeal affirmed the sentence of 490 years in prison for ex-NEXIM Bank MD, Orya

Justice Muhammed Danjuma of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, upheld the conviction and sentence of former Managing Director of the Export Import Bank of Nigeria, NEXIM, Robert Orya by Justice FE Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja.

Orya was found guilty and sentenced to 490 years in prison for bank fraud on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

The convict was charged in 2021 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 49 counts that included obtaining money under false pretenses, forgery and advance fee fraud amounting to N2.4 billion.

Dissatisfied with the decision, he then appealed to the appeals court to ask for a suspension of the sentence.

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Leading the other two Justices, Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche on Tuesday to deliver a unanimous decision, Justice Muhammad stated that, “I have considered all the reports submitted by the lawyers and have examined the court records and adopted them as well as the issues formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal. I looked at each issue and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for determination of this appeal were resolved in favor of the defendant and against the interests of the defendant. This appeal is without merit and is hereby dismissed. Judgment The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory submitted on February 5, 2026 under number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.”

The trial judge, Judge Messiri, had previously ruled that prosecutors proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt and found the defendant guilty as charged on all 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years in prison for each count, for a total of 490 years. However, the sentences must be served concurrently.

The convict served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016. He was appointed to that position on 14 August 2009 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and re-appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on 18 August 2014.