Ex-NEXIM Bank MD Robert Orya jailed 490 years over N2.4 billion fraud

The Federal Capital Territory Excessive Court docket has convicted Robert Orya, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), for fraud totaling about N2.4 billion.

This was confirmed in an announcement by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) on February 5, 2026.

The conviction highlights the continued efforts by authorities to carry senior executives accountable for monetary crimes in Nigeria.

What EFCC stated  

In accordance with the EFCC, Orya was prosecuted by the fee’s Samuel Ugwuegbulam and convicted by Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT Excessive Court docket, Abuja.

• The primary rely of the cost reads: “That you simply Mr Roberts Orya whereas being the Managing Director of Nigerian Export- Import Bank(NEXIM BANK) on or concerning the twenty first day of September 2011 in Abuja inside the jurisdiction of this honourable courtroom, with intent to defraud induced Nigerian Export-lmport Bank to pay to Treasuremix Contruction Restricted the sum of 4 Hundred and Eighty Eight Million Naira (N488,000,000) as mortgage underneath the pretence that the Administrators of Luxurium Leisure Providers Restricted utilized for and are the beneficiaries of the stated mortgage which pretence you knew was false and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to part 1(1)(b) of the Advance Payment Fraud and Different Fraud Associated Offences Act 2006 and punishable underneath Part 1(3) of the identical Act.” 
• Depend two equally states: “That you simply Mr Roberts Orya whereas being the Managing Director of Nigerian Export- Import Bank (NEXIM BANK) on or concerning the nineteenth February 2013 in Abuja inside the jurisdiction of this honourable courtroom, with intent to defraud induced Nigerian Export-Import Bank to pay to Treasuremix Development Restricted the sum of Six Hundred and Thirty Million Naira (N630,000,000) as mortgage underneath the pretence that the Administrators of Luxurium Leisure Providers Restricted utilized for and are the beneficiaries of the stated mortgage, which pretence you knew was false and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 1(1) (b) of Advance Payment Fraud and Different Fraud Associated And Different Associated Offences Act 2006 and punishable underneath Part 1(3) of the identical Act.” 

Backstory 

Robert Orya served because the managing director and chief government officer of the Nigerian Export‑Import Bank from August 2009 till February 2016.

• He was first appointed to steer NEXIM Bank on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later reappointed on August 18, 2014, by former President Goodluck Jonathan to proceed within the function. Born in Ugwe, Benue State, Orya constructed a protracted profession in banking and finance earlier than becoming a member of NEXIM Bank.
• The case towards him started when the EFCC launched an investigation into alleged monetary misconduct throughout his tenure as NEXIM Bank boss. He was arraigned in 2021 by the fee on a 49-count cost, bordering on acquiring cash by false pretences and forgery.

Extra  particulars 

Orya had pleaded “not responsible” to the costs, resulting in a trial that included testimonies from seven prosecution witnesses. In accordance with the EFCC, their proof “strongly established the defendant’s guilt.”

• Justice Messiri held that “the prosecution proved its case past each affordable doubt” and located Orya responsible on all counts.
• He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment per rely, totaling 490 years. The courtroom, nonetheless, ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

What you must know 

The EFCC’s motion towards Robert Orya is a part of a broader sample of high-profile instances involving alleged misuse of public workplace and funds in Nigeria’s public sector.

• In March 2025, the anti-graft company arraigned six officers of the Kwara State Common Primary Training Board on a number of counts of legal breach of belief and misappropriation of public funds value tens of tens of millions of naira, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of public officers entrusted with authorities assets.
• Past that, the EFCC in late 2025 arraigned the commandant and finance director of the Nigeria Peace Corps on fees of misappropriating over N60 million meant for operational provides, highlighting continued investigations into alleged corruption inside authorities businesses.
• One other current case noticed the company arraign a former chair of the Nigeria Social Insurance coverage Belief Fund on allegations of changing and laundering about N1 billion in funds, underlining sustained enforcement of economic crime legal guidelines towards senior public workplace holders.
• BFI Group Company and 6 others have been arraigned earlier than a Federal Capital Territory Excessive Court docket for an alleged try to defraud the Central Bank of Nigeria of €100 million by a pretend Certificates of Capital Importation, exhibiting that fraud prosecutions prolong past public servants to incorporate company actors.