A High Court in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory on Thursday sentenced a former managing director of the Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, Robert Orya, to a cumulative 490 years in prison after convicting him on multiple counts of fraud involving ₦2.4 billion.
Justice F. E. Messiri handed down the sentence at the FCT High Court in Abuja, imposing 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts brought against Orya by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Orya will serve a maximum of 10 years in custody.
Orya, who served as NEXIM’s managing director between 2009 and 2016, was first arraigned in November 2021 on charges bordering on fraud and abuse of office.
Prosecutors said he abused his position to fraudulently obtain more than ₦1.4 billion from the bank through loans granted to companies he allegedly incorporated while still in office. The EFCC told the court that some of the companies were registered using fictitious names or the identities of individuals without their consent.
According to the anti-graft agency, the loans remained unpaid for several years, resulting in significant financial losses to the government-owned export finance institution.
The court found Orya guilty after the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on documentary evidence and witness testimony presented during the trial.
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies have intensified prosecutions of former public officials in recent years as part of broader efforts by authorities to curb financial crimes and recover stolen public funds.
Legal Context: Understanding Concurrent Sentencing in Nigeria
Although the court imposed a cumulative sentence of 490 years, Nigerian law allows judges to order sentences to run concurrently, rather than consecutively.
Under this principle:
Multiple prison terms are served at the same time, not one after another.
The convict serves only the longest single sentence imposed.
In Orya’s case, the effective prison term is 10 years, despite convictions on 49 separate counts.
Legal analysts say courts often impose multiple concurrent sentences in complex financial crime cases to reflect the gravity and scale of offences, while still remaining within constitutional and sentencing guidelines.
Why a 490-Year Sentence Means 10 Years in Prison
Who is involved?
Robert Orya, former managing director of Nigeria’s Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), a government-owned financial institution that supports export trade.
What was he charged with?
The EFCC filed 49 counts of fraud and abuse of office, alleging that Orya used shell companies—some registered with false or stolen identities—to obtain loans from the bank while serving as its chief executive.
What did the court decide?
The FCT High Court convicted Orya on all counts and sentenced him to 10 years per count, amounting to 490 years in total.
Why isn’t he serving 490 years?
The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning Orya will serve 10 years, the longest single term imposed.
Why does this matter?
The ruling underscores Nigeria’s intensified enforcement against financial crimes involving public institutions, particularly as authorities seek to restore confidence in state-owned banks and recover public funds lost to corruption.
What happens next?
Orya retains the right to appeal the conviction and sentence under Nigerian law.
