A Nigerian socialite, Nzube Henry Ikeji, has been accused of impersonating the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in an elaborate romance scam that allegedly defrauded a Romanian woman of about $2.5 million.
According to investigations by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Ikeji is alleged to have operated as part of a syndicate that targeted foreign women searching for love on professional and social networking platforms.
The victim, identified only as Laura, said the interaction began nearly three years ago when she was contacted on LinkedIn by a man who claimed to be Dubai’s crown prince. He reportedly sought her advice on humanitarian projects, a conversation that later evolved into a romantic relationship.
As trust grew, Laura was encouraged to travel to London to meet a supposed financial manager who would help her open a Barclays account. The man, later identified by British authorities as Martins Abhulimhen, allegedly used a false identity and claimed to manage royal finances.
Laura said she was subsequently granted access to an online account displaying approximately £202 million in her name. However, each attempt to withdraw the funds came with demands for various fees. Over time, she reportedly transferred about £2.5 million before discovering that the account was fictitious.
The scheme reportedly began to unravel following internal disagreements among the alleged scammers, which ultimately exposed Ikeji’s identity to the victim. OCCRP journalists later traced Ikeji to Abuja through social media posts that showed a lavish lifestyle, including luxury vehicles, designer shopping trips, and multiple properties.
When confronted, Ikeji denied the allegations, though he acknowledged knowing Abhulimhen. He maintained that the money he received was donated to his foundation and not proceeds from fraud.
A UK court has since seized £113,000 from Abhulimhen’s bank account for restitution to the victim. Investigations are ongoing, with Nigerian, British, and Romanian authorities involved. As of now, no formal charges have been filed against Ikeji.
