Socialite Accused of Posing as Dubai Prince in $2.5m Romance Scàm

A Nigerian socialite, Nzube Henry Ikeji, has been implicated in a sophisticated international fraud scheme, accused of impersonating the Crown Prince of Dubai to swindle a Romanian woman out of approximately $2.5 million.

An investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), reported by Peoples Gazette, alleges that Ikeji operated a syndicate targeting women abroad through online romance scams.

The victim, referred to as Laura, stated she was contacted on LinkedIn three years ago by someone claiming to be Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The connection began with a discussion about humanitarian work before evolving into a romantic involvement.

After gaining her trust, the alleged fraudster arranged for Laura to meet a purported financial manager in London to open a bank account. This man, identified by UK police as Martins Abhulimhen, used a fake identity and posed as a royal finance handler.

Laura was then shown an online account supposedly holding about £202 million in her name. To access the “funds,” she was instructed to pay various fees, ultimately transferring roughly £2.5 million before discovering the account was fraudulent.

The scam reportedly unravelled due to internal conflict among the perpetrators, which led to Ikeji’s identity being revealed to the victim. OCCRP journalists tracked Ikeji to Abuja, where his social media showcased an opulent lifestyle featuring luxury vehicles, designer purchases, and multiple mansions.

When questioned, Ikeji denied the accusations but acknowledged knowing Abhulimhen. He claimed the money he received was for his charitable foundation.

A UK court has ordered the seizure of £113,000 from Abhulimhen’s account to repay the victim. Investigations are ongoing by Nigerian, British, and Romanian authorities, though no formal charges have been filed to date.