Nigerian socialite Nzube Ikeji allegedly posed as the Crown Prince of Dubai to defraud a Romanian businesswoman of over $2.5 million in a romance and humanitarian investment scam.
The allegation was contained in an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
According to the report, the scheme began about three years ago when the Romanian woman, identified as Laura, was contacted on LinkedIn by a man claiming to be the Dubai Crown Prince.
The impostor reportedly told her he wanted to invest in a humanitarian project in Romania. Their online conversations later developed into a romantic relationship. He asked her to meet his supposed financial manager in London to open a bank account.
Laura was shown an account balance of over £200,000, but later discovered the account was fake. When she attempted to withdraw funds, she was asked to pay large fees.
She transferred more than $2.5 million before suspecting fraud.
According to OCCRP, disagreements among the alleged fraudsters led two accomplices to reveal the scheme to Laura, disclosing Ikeji as the man behind the fake Dubai Crown Prince identity.
They also shared videos showing him at a mansion in Abuja.
Laura confronted the impostor with the claims made by his partners.
He reportedly told her, “They want to create enmity between us,” denying the allegations.
Investigators traced Ikeji through social media posts. Videos showed him in London purchasing items and attending a music performance in Asaba, where he was seen spraying naira.
An Instagram post by his wife helped locate his residence in Abuja.
When approached by a journalist, Ikeji denied knowing Laura and declined to respond to questions about posing as the Dubai Crown Prince.
He said enquiries about a UK-based associate, Martins Abhulimhen, should be directed to his lawyer.
The investigation linked the case to Abhulimhen, identified as the fake financial manager.
UK police reportedly said Abhulimhen was under investigation over suspicious funds linked to Laura’s money, which were allegedly transferred to Nigeria.
OCCRP said the investigation included a visit to Abuja, where the journalist confirmed Ikeji’s residence and verified the activities linked to the impersonation scheme.
