, Robert Orya, has been sentenced to a total of 490){kind=link}
Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, has been sentenced to a total of 490 years in prison following his conviction on multiple counts of financial fraud involving approximately N2.4 billion.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja delivered the verdict on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented evidence of Orya’s misconduct during his tenure as NEXIM MD from 2011 to 2016.
Justice F. E. Messiri sentenced him to ten years imprisonment for each of the 49 charges, resulting in the cumulative sentence of 490 years.
Orya’s prosecution, led by EFCC lawyer Samuel Ugwuegbulam, highlighted a series of transactions and financial irregularities that the court found to constitute fraud, abuse of office, and misappropriation of funds.
The EFCC described the ruling as a significant step in its ongoing campaign against corruption within Nigeria’s banking and public sector institutions.
“This sentence sends a clear message that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law,” an EFCC spokesperson said.
“The commission remains committed to enforcing accountability and protecting public resources.”
Observers noted that the case sets a precedent for how financial crimes involving high-ranking officials are handled in Nigeria, reflecting increased scrutiny and judicial determination to curb systemic corruption.
The EFCC has directed interested parties to its website, www.efcc.gov.ng, for more information and updates on related anti-graft proceedings.