Roberts Orya, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), has been convicted and sentenced to a cumulative 490 years’ imprisonment for his role in a N2.4 billion bank fraud.
F. E. Messiri, Justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, delivered the judgment on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after finding Orya guilty on all 49 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Orya was first arraigned in 2021 by the EFCC on charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud, offences said to have been committed during his tenure as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank.
According to the prosecution, the offences involved the fraudulent disbursement of loans amounting to N2.4 billion through false representations and forged documentation.
One of the counts revealed that on or about September 21, 2011, while serving as Managing Director, Orya allegedly induced NEXIM Bank to release a loan of N488 million to Treasuremix Construction Limited.
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The funds were purportedly granted on the false claim that the directors of Luxurium Leisure Services Limited had applied for and were the beneficiaries of the loan, a representation the court found to be untrue.
Another count showed that on or about February 19, 2013, Orya again induced the bank to disburse N630 million to the same company under similar false pretences, claiming that Luxurium Leisure Services Limited was the loan applicant and beneficiary.
Despite pleading not guilty to all the charges, the former bank chief was unable to discredit the case presented by the prosecution.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Samuel Ugwuebulam, called seven witnesses during the trial.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Spokesman, their testimonies and documentary evidence, the court held, clearly established the guilt of the defendant.
In his judgment, Messiri ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
He consequently convicted Orya on all 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to a total of 490 years.
The court, however, ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016.
He was appointed on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was reappointed on August 18, 2014, by Goodluck Jonathan, a former President.
