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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a landmark conviction against Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), who served in the position from 2011 to 2016. On February 5, 2026, Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja convicted Orya on all 49 counts of fraud involving approximately N2.4 billion.
According to an official statement released by the EFCC, the prosecution, led by counsel Samuel Ugwuegbulam, successfully proved the case against the former bank chief. The court sentenced Orya to ten years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts. Although the terms are to run concurrently in practice under Nigerian law, the headline sentence of 490 years has drawn significant attention as a strong signal in the fight against financial crimes in public institutions.
The conviction marks a major milestone in the EFCC’s long-running investigation into alleged mismanagement and fraudulent activities at NEXIM during Orya’s tenure. The charges centered on various financial malpractices, including diversion of funds and other corrupt practices that reportedly caused substantial losses to the bank.
This development comes amid the agency’s continued efforts to hold former public officials accountable for economic and financial offenses. The EFCC emphasized that the successful prosecution underscores its commitment to recovering public assets and deterring corruption in Nigeria’s financial sector.
Meanwhile, in a separate but unrelated anti-graft matter reported around the same period, the EFCC also announced the final forfeiture of $20,000 and CFA 110,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The funds were intercepted by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service at the Seme Border in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State and subsequently handed over to the commission for investigation. Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered the permanent forfeiture following due process.
The dual announcements highlight the EFCC’s active operations across multiple fronts in its bid to curb money laundering, fraud, and illicit financial flows in the country. As details of the Orya case continue to unfold, observers anticipate potential appeals and further scrutiny of the underlying transactions at NEXIM during the period in question.
