EFCC Arraigns Former NEXIM Boss Over N1.4b Fraud

A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Roberts Orya, was on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Naija News report that the ex-NEXIM boss was dragged to court over alleged N1.4 billion fraud.

This was made known in a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.

According to the statement, Orya was arraigned on a 49-count charge of impersonation, misappropriation, and abuse of office at Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.

EFCC accused Orya of abusing his position to obtain loans totalling N1.4 billion from NEXIM Bank.

The anti-graft agency stated that Orya incorporated a company, Luxurium Leisure Service Limited, and used the names of non-existent persons to grant loans to the company.

The EFCC said his offence contravenes 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.”

Count four read, “That you Mr Roberts Orya while being the managing director of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM BANK) on or about the 19th February, 2013 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 Six Hundred and Thirty Million Naira (N630,000,000) 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.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, the EFCC’s counsel, S.A Ugwuegbulam, asked the court to pick a date for the commencement of trial.

He opposed the motion for bail for the defendant’s bail, saying the defence only served him with the application in court.

The prosecution counsel insisted that the defendant had jumped the administrative bail offered him by the commission.

Justice F.E Messiri rejected the oral bail application and adjourned till November 29 for consideration of a formal bail application.

This article was originally published on Naija News

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