Justice Frances Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, to 10 years’ imprisonment for fraud involving about ₦2.4 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction after prosecuting Orya on 49 counts bordering on criminal breach of trust, fraud, misappropriation, impersonation, official corruption and abuse of office.
In her judgment, Justice Messiri sentenced Orya to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The case stemmed from allegations that Orya, who served as NEXIM Managing Director between 2011 and 2016, abused his office to divert public funds through several entities, including Luxurium Leisure Services Limited, a company allegedly incorporated using fictitious names.
He was also accused of fraudulently inducing the bank to grant loans, including ₦488 million to Treasure Mix Construction Limited, under false pretences.
Orya was arraigned by the EFCC in November 2021 on the 49-count charge. The anti-graft agency alleged that he used his position to obtain more than ₦1.4 billion from NEXIM and incorporated companies using the names of non-existent persons or individuals without their consent to secure loans that remained unpaid for several years.
Orya pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
