A Nigerian social media personality, Nzube Henry Ikeji, has been accused of impersonating Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in an alleged online romance scam that reportedly cost a Romanian woman about $2.5 million.
The allegations are contained in findings by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which linked Ikeji to an international fraud syndicate said to target foreign women seeking romantic relationships online.
According to the report, the victim, identified as Laura, was first contacted on LinkedIn by a man who claimed to be the Dubai crown prince. The conversation reportedly began with discussions around humanitarian projects and charity initiatives before gradually becoming personal and romantic.
Laura said she was later introduced to an individual presented as a financial manager based in London, identified as Martins Abhulimhen. British authorities allegedly traced Abhulimhen to the scheme, claiming he helped create a fake Barclays Bank account in Laura’s name, which showed a balance of approximately £202 million.
To gain access to the supposed funds, Laura was repeatedly asked to pay various fees and charges. Investigators say she transferred close to £2 million before eventually realising that the bank account and the transactions were fraudulent.
OCCRP reporters reportedly traced Ikeji to Abuja, where his social media pages showed images of luxury cars, high-end shopping trips, and multiple properties, raising further questions about the source of his wealth.
Ikeji has denied the allegations, insisting he did not impersonate the Dubai crown prince. However, he admitted knowing Abhulimhen and claimed that funds he received were donations meant for his charitable foundation.
Meanwhile, a UK court has reportedly seized £113,000 from Abhulimhen’s account as part of restitution efforts. Authorities in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Romania are said to be continuing investigations into the case. As of the time of filing this report, no formal charges have been announced against any of the individuals involved.