Appeal court upholds 10-year prison sentence for former NEXIM Bank chief Orya

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the 10-year prison sentence handed to former NEXIM Bank Managing Director Roberts Orya, rejecting his challenge to the conviction on all 49 counts.

A three-member panel led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The lower court sentenced Orya to 10 years on each count, but ordered the terms to run concurrently.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Orya in 2021 on charges including obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud. The commission alleged that he used his position to divert NEXIM Bank funds totaling N2.4 billion through a series of fraudulent loan awards.

“

In my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favour of the respondent and against the appellant.

In the lead judgment, Danjuma said the court had reviewed the lawyers’ briefs and the trial record. “In my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favour of the respondent and against the appellant,” he said. The judge dismissed the appeal as “devoid of any merit” and affirmed the High Court judgment delivered on 5 February 2026.

Orya led the government-owned export finance institution from 2009 to 2016. NEXIM Bank was established in 1991 to promote and finance Nigeria’s non-oil exports. One of the charges alleged that Orya paid N488 million to Treasure Mix Construction Limited as a loan.

“

Devoid of any merit.