The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the conviction and 490-year jail sentence given to a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, Robert Orya, for N2.4 billion fraud.
Justice Muhammed Danjuma upheld the judgment of Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja.
Orya was convicted and sentenced on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after being found guilty on multiple counts.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned him in 2021 on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, he approached the Appellate court for reprieve.
Leading two other Justices, Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche on Tuesday to deliver a unanimous judgment, Justice Muhammed.
He stated: “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 favor of the respondent and against the appellant. This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment 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.”
The trial judge, Justice Messiri, had earlier judged that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found the defendant guilty as charged on all the 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on each, totaling 490 years.
The sentences would run concurrently