Ex-NEXIM bank MD Robert Orya bags 490-year jail term over N2.4 billion fraud
A Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Thursday convicted a former managing director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, over N2.4 billion fraud.
The development was revealed in a statement posted on the Facebook and X pages of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday.
“The EFCC, today, February 5, 2026, secured the conviction of Robert Orya, a former Managing Director, Nigerian Import Export Bank, NEXIM (2011-2016), for a fraud of about N2.4 billion.
“Orya, who was prosecuted by EFCC’s Samuel Ugwuegbulam, was convicted by Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High court, Abuja and sentenced to ten years imprisonment on each of the 49-count charge,” the statement read.
The EFCC brought a 49-count charge before Justice F.E. Messiri, accusing Mr Orya of fraudulently diverting funds amounting to about N2.4 billion.
The former NEXIM boss was prosecuted by Samuel Ugwuegbulam of the EFCC, which secured his conviction on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
In delivering judgment, Mr Messiri found Mr Orya guilty on all 49 counts, and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to a total of 490 years in prison.
The EFCC first arraigned Mr Orya before Mr Messiri on November 25, 2021, on a 49-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, impersonation, misappropriation, official corruption, fraud, and abuse of office.
Mr Orya served as the managing director of NEXIM Bank from 2011 to 2016, after which he became embroiled in legal and financial disputes, including lawsuits on alleged procedural abuses and loan disbursement irregularities.
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