Ex-NEXIM Bank MD Robert Orya Jailed 490 Years over N2.4 Billion Fraud

Abuja, Nigeria | February 6, 2026

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, to a cumulative 490 years in prison for defrauding the bank of ₦2.4 billion.

Justice Messiri delivered the judgment after finding Orya guilty on 49 counts bordering on financial fraud. The court handed down a 10-year jail term for each count, with the sentences to run consecutively, resulting in a total of 490 years’ imprisonment.

Orya, who served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2011 to 2016, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following investigations into financial improprieties during his tenure.

Reacting to the verdict, the EFCC described the conviction as a major victory in its sustained fight against corruption. The anti-graft agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring that public officials are held accountable for the mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds, regardless of status or influence.

The conviction of the former NEXIM boss adds to a growing list of high-profile prosecutions involving financial misconduct in Nigeria’s banking and public sectors, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance that no individual is above the law.