The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, secured the conviction of Robert Orya, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), over a fraud involving approximately N2.4 billion.
Orya, who served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016, was found guilty on 49 counts bordering on financial crimes. He was prosecuted by the EFCC through its counsel, Samuel Ugwuegbulam.
Delivering judgment at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, Justice F.E. Messiri convicted Orya on all counts and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 charges.
The sentences are to run consecutively, amounting to a total of 490 years in prison.
The court held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, establishing Orya’s culpability in the fraudulent transactions that led to the loss of public funds to the tune of N2.4 billion.
The EFCC had arraigned the former bank chief on multiple counts related to abuse of office and financial impropriety during his tenure at the government-owned development finance institution.
The charges stemmed from investigations into the management of NEXIM Bank and the handling of funds under Orya’s leadership.
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In his ruling, Justice Messiri emphasised the gravity of the offences and their impact on public trust in financial institutions, noting that the sentence was meant to serve as a deterrent to public officers entrusted with managing public resources.
The EFCC described the conviction as a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to combat corruption and financial crimes in the country, particularly within public institutions.
Orya’s conviction marks one of the most high-profile fraud cases involving a former chief executive of a federal financial institution, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance on accountability and the rule of law.
The EFCC said it remains committed to pursuing similar cases to their logical conclusion, regardless of the status or position of those involved.