David Williams
A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Robert Orya, has been sentenced to a combined 490 years in prison after the FCT High Court found him guilty of large-scale fraud involving about N2.4 billion.
The conviction was secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the FCT High Court in Abuja.
Prosecutors told the court that the former NEXIM boss committed financial offences while leading the government-owned export bank.
Justice F.E. Messiri delivered the judgment after reviewing the charges against him.
Orya was found guilty on 49 separate counts. The court then sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for each count.Although the sentences run across multiple charges, the total adds up to 490 years.
The ruling has triggered strong reactions, with many Nigerians discussing the case widely on social media because of the unusually long jail term.Before his legal troubles, Orya was a key figure in the banking and finance sector.
He led NEXIM’s executive management team after taking office in August 2009.
He also served as an honorary president of the Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions.
His conviction now marks a major development in the ongoing fight against financial crimes in public institutions
