A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Robert Orya, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), to a cumulative 490 years’ imprisonment for defrauding the bank of ₦2.4 billion.
Orya, who headed the development finance institution between 2011 and 2016, was convicted on all 49 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judgment was delivered on Thursday, February 5, 2026, by Justice F.E. Messiri, following a prolonged trial in which the prosecution was led by Samuel Ugwuegbulam on behalf of the EFCC.
Justice Messiri sentenced Orya to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively, amounting to a total of 490 years in prison.
The EFCC described the conviction as a significant milestone in its sustained campaign against corruption, stressing that the judgment sends a strong signal that public officials entrusted with managing public resources would be held accountable for financial misconduct.
According to the anti-graft agency, the offences bordered on abuse of office, criminal breach of trust and fraudulent diversion of public funds meant to support Nigeria’s export sector.
The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) is a federal government-owned development finance institution established to provide export credit, guarantees and insurance facilities to Nigerian exporters, with the aim of diversifying the economy away from oil dependence.
Orya’s prosecution arose from allegations that, during his tenure as managing director, he abused his office by approving and disbursing funds in violation of established procedures, leading to the loss of billions of naira in public funds.
The case is one of several high-profile prosecutions involving senior officials in Nigeria’s banking and public finance sectors in recent years, as anti-corruption agencies intensify efforts to recover stolen assets and deter financial crimes.
Legal observers say the conviction reinforces the judiciary’s role in strengthening accountability and underscores the Federal Government’s stance that no individual is above the law, regardless of status or former position.
