The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Tuesday upheld the conviction and sentence handed down to former Managing Director of Nigeria Export Import (NEXIM) Bank, Robert Orya.
The appellate court upheld Orya’s conviction after he was found guilty by the FCT High Court on all 49 counts and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to 490 years.
According to media reports, the convict served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016.
He was first appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
After leaving office, the convict was arraigned in 2021 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud involving N2.4 billion.
Orya was later convicted and sentenced to 490 years’ imprisonment on February 5, 2026, by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
Dissatisfied with the ruling of Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court, the convict appealed to the appellate court, seeking reprieve and urging it to overturn his conviction.
Delivering their judgement, a three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma held that the trial judge, Justice Messiri, was correct in his decision, ruling that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Danjuma, who led two other justices, Ntong Ntong and Ele Enenche, in a unanimous judgement, said, “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 in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.”
