Nigerian socialite Nzube Ikeji has denied allegations linking him to an online romance and investment scam said to have cost a Romanian woman more than $2.5 million.
Speaking with AIT on Wednesday, Mr Ikeji described the claims as an attempt to damage his reputation and said the matter was being misrepresented in public discourse.
Police at the National Cybercrime Centre are reviewing an investigative documentary alleging that Ikeji impersonated the Crown Prince of Dubai in an online scheme involving romance and investment.
According to the report by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the case began about three years ago when a Romanian businesswoman identified as Laura was contacted on LinkedIn by a man claiming to be the Dubai Crown Prince.
The individual allegedly said he intended to invest in a humanitarian project in Romania and their exchanges later developed into a relationship.
She was reportedly asked to meet a supposed financial manager in London to open a bank account.
Although she was shown a balance of over £200,000, she later discovered the account was not genuine.
When she attempted to withdraw funds, she was asked to pay fees.
She is said to have transferred more than $2.5 million before suspecting fraud.
OCCRP reported that disagreements among those involved in the scheme led to disclosures identifying Ikeji as the person behind the impersonation.
Videos allegedly showed him at a residence in Abuja.
When confronted, the impostor reportedly denied the claims.
In his interview, Ikeji said the money referenced in the allegations was paid into his account in naira.
“The money was paid to me from a naira account,” he said.
“I feel like there is a targeted plan to destroy my reputation because, as it stands now, nobody believes me.”
He said the reports had affected his relationships and standing.
“All my friends have flown away; everybody now is calling me a criminal. All over the internet is a rumor that I scammed a Romanian woman,” he said.
Ikeji did not present documents during the interview to support his position.
A senior police official said investigators are analysing publicly available information and have yet to receive a formal complaint from the alleged victim or the documentary producers.
No charges have been announced and it remains unclear whether a formal complaint has been filed in Nigeria or elsewhere.
In an earlier response to enquiries, Nzube Ikeji denied knowing the Romanian woman and declined to comment on claims that he posed as the Dubai Crown Prince.
He referred questions about a UK-based associate, Martins Abhulimhen, to his lawyer.
The investigation also linked the case to Abhulimhen, identified as the alleged financial manager.
UK authorities were reported to be reviewing funds connected to the case.
