A Federal Capital Territory High Court has sentenced Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), to 490 years in prison for defrauding the bank of N2.4 billion.
Orya, who served as NEXIM’s MD from 2011 to 2016, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Samuel Ugwuegbulam. He was convicted on all 49 counts brought against him before Justice F.E. Messiri on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
The judge imposed a 10-year sentence for each count, resulting in a total of 490 years of imprisonment.
The EFCC has deemed the conviction a significant victory in its ongoing battle against corruption, highlighting that public officials will be held accountable for the mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds.
Orya’s prosecution follows a series of high-profile cases of financial misconduct within Nigeria’s banking and public sectors, reinforcing the principle that no one is above the law.”
