The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former managing director of Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank Roberts Orya for alleged impersonation, misappropriation, and abuse of office.
Mr Orya was arraigned on 49 counts before Justice F.E Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, a statement by the EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said.
The commission accused the defendant of abusing his position as managing director of the bank to obtain over N1.4 billion from NEXIM Bank.
The EFCC added that Orya, while being the managing director of the bank, incorporated a company, Luxurium Leisure Service Limited, used the names of non-existent persons and others without their consent, and proceeded to grant loans to the company which remained unpaid years after.
The EFCC said the alleged offence contravene section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and is punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
Count one of the charges, read, “That you Mr Roberts Orya while being the managing director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM BANK) on or about the 21st day of September 2011 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud induced Nigerian Export-Import Bank to pay to Treasure Mix Construction Limited the sum of Four Hundred and Eighty-eight Million Naira (N488,000,000) as a loan under the pretence that the directors of Luxurium Leisure Services Limited applied for and are the beneficiaries of the said loan which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
Orya pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge rejected his oral bail application and ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the EFCC while the case was adjourned till November 29, 2021, for consideration of a formal bail application.
