Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice F.E. Messiri has convicted Robert Orya, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), over a fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion.
He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to a total of 490 years in prison.
The charges were prosecuted by Samuel Ugwuegbulam of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which secured the conviction on Friday.
Recall that Orya served as the MD of NEXIM Bank from around 2009 to 2016, during which time he had been credited with efforts to refocus the bank on supporting non-oil exports and turning around its performance after earlier financial challenges.
However, his tenure later became submersed in legal and financial disputes, including previous suits related to alleged procedural abuses and loan disbursement irregularities.
The EFCC had brought the 49-count charge alleging that Orya fraudulently diverted funds amounting to about N2.4 billion, a case that concluded with his conviction and substantial prison term at the Abuja High Court.
In delivering the landslide judgment, Justice Messiri found the former bank chief guilty on all counts, reflecting the court’s stance on financial impropriety involving public-interest institutions.
