The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by former Nigeria Export-Import Bank Managing Director Robert Orya and affirmed his 490-year prison sentence in connection with a N2.4 billion fraud case.
The unanimous decision was delivered on Tuesday by a three-member panel headed by Justice Muhammed Danjuma.
Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche were also members of the panel.
The appeal challenged the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which convicted Orya and sentenced him to a total of 490 years in prison.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, through its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development in a statement.
Justice Danjuma said the appellate panel reviewed the arguments presented by both sides as well as the records from the lower court before reaching its decision.
According to the judge, the issues raised by Orya’s legal team were resolved against the appellant and in favour of the respondent.
The court concluded that the appeal had no merit and upheld the judgment delivered by Justice F.E. Messiri on February 5, 2026.
Orya was originally arraigned by the EFCC in 2021 on a 49-count charge connected to alleged financial offences amounting to N2.4 billion.
The allegations included obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.
The charges formed the basis of the prosecution that eventually resulted in his conviction by the FCT High Court.
In dismissing the appeal, the Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s decision in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021.
The ruling represents another significant development in the long-running case involving the former bank chief and the anti-graft agency.
