Former NEXIM MD Robert Orya Sentenced to 490 Years in Prison for ₦2.4 Billion Fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down a massive 490-year prison sentence to Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), after convicting him of fraud involving about ₦2.4 billion.

Orya, who led NEXIM from 2011 to 2016, was found guilty on all 49 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice F.E. Messiri sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on each of the 49 charges, which run consecutively—totaling 490 years.

The EFCC announced the conviction and sentencing on Thursday, February 5, 2026, via its official X handle.

In the statement, the commission confirmed that EFCC prosecution counsel Samuel Ugwuegbulam successfully proved the case, leading to Orya’s conviction across every count.

The EFCC statement reads: “The EFCC, today, February 5, 2026, secured the conviction of Robert Orya, a former Managing Director, Nigerian Import Export Bank, NEXIM (2011-2016), for a fraud of about N2.4 billion. “Orya, who was prosecuted by EFCC’s Samuel Ugwuegbulam, was convicted by Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court, Abuja and sentenced to ten years imprisonment on each of the 49 count charges.”