The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the 490-year jail term handed to former Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) Managing Director, Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma, delivering the unanimous judgment of a three-member panel on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, dismissed Orya’s appeal and affirmed the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The panel, which also comprised Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, ruled that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the conviction delivered by Justice F.E. Messiri on February 5, 2026.
Justice Danjuma said the court had considered the briefs filed by the parties, reviewed the records of the trial court and examined all the issues raised in the appeal.
According to him, the issues formulated for determination were resolved in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and against Orya.
The court consequently affirmed the judgment of the FCT High Court in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021.
Court of Appeal Rejects Orya’s Appeal
Robert Orya was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after being arraigned in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
The charges were connected to alleged fraudulent transactions involving approximately N2.4 billion.
Following the trial, Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court found Orya guilty on all 49 counts, ruling that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court subsequently sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, bringing the total sentence to 490 years.
However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Orya will not serve the 490 years consecutively.
Dissatisfied with the conviction and sentence, Orya approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the decision of the trial court.
After considering the arguments and records before it, the appellate court found no basis to interfere with the lower court’s judgment.
The Court of Appeal therefore dismissed the appeal and affirmed Robert Orya’s 490-year jail term.
The decision represents another major development in the long-running fraud case against the former NEXIM Bank chief.
Robert Orya’s Tenure at NEXIM Bank
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016.
He was first appointed to lead the bank on August 14, 2009, by the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
He was subsequently reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
The latest Court of Appeal ruling now leaves the conviction and sentence imposed by the FCT High Court intact.
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