The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced Robert Orya, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), over a massive fraud involving approximately N2.4 billion, marking one of the most significant corruption convictions involving a former top banking executive in recent years.
The conviction was confirmed in a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 5, 2026, underscoring the agency’s sustained drive to hold senior public officials and corporate executives accountable for financial crimes.
According to the EFCC, Orya was prosecuted by the commission’s counsel, Samuel Ugwuegbulam, before Justice F. E. Messiri of the FCT High Court.
The court found Orya guilty on all 49 counts bordering on fraud, criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds.
Justice Messiri sentenced the former NEXIM boss to 490 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, following the court’s conclusion that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
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The charges stemmed from the fraudulent diversion and mismanagement of N2.4 billion during Orya’s tenure as Managing Director of NEXIM between 2011 and 2016.
The EFCC stated that the offences involved the abuse of office and deliberate manipulation of financial processes within the bank, resulting in substantial losses to a key government institution established to support Nigeria’s export trade and economic diversification.
The conviction is being viewed as a major milestone in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign, particularly in the financial sector, where enforcement agencies have faced criticism in the past for the slow pace of high-profile prosecutions.
Anti-corruption observers say the judgment sends a strong signal that executive position and institutional influence will not shield individuals from the consequences of financial misconduct.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to pursuing similar cases involving public funds and urged stakeholders to support ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability across public institutions.