A Nigerian court has sentenced former Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) Managing Director Robert Orya to a cumulative 490 years in prison after finding him guilty on multiple counts of financial fraud totaling ₦2.4 billion.

According to court records, Orya received 10 years per count, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively, reflecting the scale and severity of the offenses.

Fraud and Conviction

Prosecutors presented evidence showing that public funds were misappropriated through fraudulent transactions during Orya’s tenure at NEXIM Bank. The court ruled that the offenses constituted a serious breach of public trust and financial governance.

The case forms part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen accountability in public institutions and deter large-scale financial crimes.

Anti-Corruption Signal

Legal analysts say the length of the sentence sends a strong signal about judicial intolerance for corruption involving state-linked financial institutions. Nigeria has faced sustained public pressure to hold senior officials accountable for economic crimes and recover stolen assets.

Authorities did not immediately confirm whether asset forfeiture proceedings would follow the sentencing.