The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the conviction and sentence of former Nigerian Export Import Bank Managing Director Robert Orya over a ₦2.4 billion fraud case.
A three member panel unanimously dismissed Orya’s appeal against the judgment delivered by the Federal Capital Territory High Court on 5 February 2026. The trial judge, Justice F.E. Messiri, had found that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt after calling seven witnesses.
The panel was led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, with Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche. Delivering the unanimous judgment, Justice Danjuma said the issues raised by Orya were resolved against him: “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.”
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the appellate court resolved all the issues raised by Orya against him and upheld the trial court’s judgment.
Orya was convicted on 49 counts arising from loans obtained from NEXIM Bank during his tenure as managing director.
The prosecution accused him of using a company connected to him and the identities of people who had not authorized their involvement to secure loans that remained unpaid.
The trial court imposed ten years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts.
Although adding the individual sentences produces a cumulative figure of 490 years, the trial judge directed that they should run concurrently. Orya is therefore required to serve ten years under the sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal.
The distinction is important. He has not been ordered to remain in prison for 490 consecutive years.
The appellate decision confirms that the trial court’s findings and sentence remain valid. It does not establish that every possible avenue of appeal has been exhausted.
Orya may seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, depending on the grounds he intends to raise and the applicable procedural requirements. No notice of a further appeal had been confirmed when this article was prepared.
Orya served as NEXIM Bank’s managing director between 2009 and 2016, appointed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan. He was arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 and denied the allegations during his trial.
The allegations became findings of guilt when the trial court convicted him. That conviction has now survived its first appellate review.
A certified copy of the Court of Appeal judgment should be obtained before publication to confirm the complete reasoning, formal case number, consequential orders and any directions concerning restitution or forfeiture.
