ABUJA — The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, dismissing his appeal and affirming the judgment that found him guilty of a ₦2.4 billion fraud scheme.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Tuesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma held that Orya’s appeal was devoid of merit, leaving intact the February 5, 2026 judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
“I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court,” Justice Danjuma said while delivering the lead judgment.
“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 appellate court consequently affirmed the judgment delivered by Justice F.E. Messiri in Charge No. FSC/SC/CS/487/2021.
The case stems from a 49-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2021, accusing Orya of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance-fee fraud involving approximately ₦2.4 billion during his tenure at NEXIM Bank.
In February, the trial court found that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicted Orya on all counts and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts.
Although the aggregate sentence amounts to 490 years, the prison terms are to run concurrently, meaning the former bank chief will serve a maximum custodial term of 10 years unless the judgment is overturned by the Supreme Court.
Justice Messiri had held that the elaborate scheme involved fraudulent loan transactions, the use of fictitious identities and other deceptive practices that resulted in substantial financial losses to the government-owned export credit institution.
The Court of Appeal’s decision marks another significant victory for the EFCC in its campaign against high-profile financial crimes and reinforces the judiciary’s increasingly uncompromising approach to corruption-related prosecutions involving senior public officials.
Orya, who headed NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016 after being appointed by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, may still seek a final review of the conviction at the Supreme Court. Until then, both his conviction and sentence remain in force.
