Robert Orya, Former NEXIM Bank MD, Convicted of ₦2.4 Billion Fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of
Robert Orya, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM),
for fraud involving about ₦2.4 billion. Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM from
2011 to 2016. On November 25, 2021, the EFCC arraigned him before Justice F.E.
Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. He faced a 49-count
charge. The charges included:
● Criminal breach of trust
● Impersonation
● Misappropriation
● Official corruption
● Fraud (including obtaining money by false pretenses)
● Abuse of office
The EFCC alleged that Orya abused his position as Managing Director. He incorporated
a company called Luxurium Leisure Services Limited using fictitious names (non-existent
persons) and names of real people without their consent. He used this company to
fraudulently obtain loans from NEXIM Bank. The loans were disbursed but remained
largely unpaid. Specific examples from the charges include:
● On or about September 21, 2011, Orya induced NEXIM Bank to disburse ₦488
million as a loan to Treasure Mix Construction Limited (also referred to as Treasuremix
Construction Limited). He falsely claimed it was for Luxurium Leisure Services Limited
and that its directors were the legitimate applicants and beneficiaries.
● On or about February 19, 2013, he induced another disbursement of ₦630 million
under the same false pretense.
The total amount involved in the fraudulent activities was reported as approximately
₦2.4 billion. After a trial that lasted several years, Justice F.E. Messiri delivered the
judgment on February 5, 2026. The court found Orya guilty on all 49 counts. The judge
ruled that the EFCC proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. Orya was sentenced to
10 years imprisonment on each count. This totals 490 years. In Nigerian law, multiple
sentences like this usually run concurrently. This means the effective prison term is the
longest single sentence — 10 years — unless the court orders otherwise. The
prosecution was led by EFCC counsel Samuel Ugwuegbulam. This case is part of the
EFCC’s efforts to address corruption in public institutions.
