In a landmark ruling delivered on February 5, 2026, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), to a cumulative 490 years in prison for fraud involving approximately ₦2.4 billion.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the FCT High Court handed down the sentence after finding Orya guilty on all 49 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges included criminal breach of trust, impersonation, misappropriation, official corruption, fraud, and abuse of office.
Orya, who served as NEXIM’s Managing Director from 2011 to 2016, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each of the 49 counts. While such concurrent or stacked sentences often result in symbolic totals far exceeding a natural lifespan, Nigerian courts frequently impose them to reflect the severity and multiplicity of offenses in high-profile corruption cases.
The effective time served would typically be determined by prison regulations and any appeals.The EFCC, which prosecuted the case through counsel Samuel Ugwuegbulam, secured the conviction after years of investigation and trial. The allegations stemmed from Orya’s tenure, where he reportedly abused his position to facilitate fraudulent loans and divert funds. Earlier reports from the EFCC’s 2021 arraignment detailed how Orya allegedly incorporated a shell company, Luxurium Leisure Service Limited, using fictitious or unauthorized names to obtain and misappropriate over ₦1.3 billion (with the total fraud later quantified around ₦2.4 billion in court proceedings).
This conviction marks a significant win for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts under the EFCC, highlighting accountability for financial misconduct in public institutions. The case dates back to initial probes around 2019–2021, following accusations from the Central Bank of Nigeria and subsequent EFCC charges.Orya has the right to appeal the judgment.
As of now, the ruling stands as a strong statement against abuse of office in Nigeria’s banking and export-import sector.
The development has trended widely on social media, with photos of Orya circulating alongside discussions of the unprecedented sentence length. It underscores ongoing reforms to deter economic crimes in the country.
