Ex-NEXIM Bank MD Robert Orya Sentenced To 490 Years In Prison Over N2.4bn Fraud

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has handed a lengthy prison sentence to Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice F. E. Messiri sentenced Orya to 10 years in prison on each of the 49 charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Although the total adds up to 490 years, the court ruled that the sentences will run at the same time.

Robert Orya led NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016.

He was first arraigned before the court in November 2021 on multiple charges related to fraud and abuse of office.

The EFCC accused him of using his position to unlawfully secure more than N1.4 billion from the bank.

The anti-corruption agency said he set up a company while still in office and allegedly used the identities of fictitious individuals and others without their permission to obtain loans from the bank.

The loans, according to the EFCC, were not repaid for years.

Robert Orya pleaded not guilty to the charges.

KanyiDaily also reported how the EFCC arraigned former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, before an Abuja High Court over an alleged N2.2bn contract fraud.