An international probe has indicted Nigerian socialite Nzube Ikeji for allegedly orchestrating a $2.5 million (₦3.4 billion) online scam against a Romanian businesswoman by impersonating the Dubai Crown Prince.
According to a February 3, 2026 report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Ikeji posed as Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to lure the victim, identified as Laura, with fake humanitarian funding and a romantic relationship.
Laura was given access to a fake bank portal showing about £202 million in her name. Believing the funds were real, she paid multiple “processing fees,” eventually sending about $2.5 million.
Martins Abhulimhen, identified as a key accomplice who posed as a financial manager named “Matthew Cros,” later confessed. The scheme reportedly collapsed due to disputes over the stolen funds.
“He defrauded you of more than 3 million euros.”
In response to the viral reports, the law firm representing Ikeji, Oli & Partners, issued a statement describing the allegations as “unfounded.” The firm noted that the matter is currently:
“Before the court”
and cautioned against the spread of unverified information.
The OCCRP investigation further highlighted Ikeji’s high-profile social standing, featuring photographs of the suspect with prominent Nigerian celebrities, governors, and ministers. Despite his public image as a philanthropist through the Nzube Ikeji Foundation, investigators traced the operation to his residence in Abuja.
The documentary detailing the fraud was reportedly removed from major video platforms on February 4, 2026, following its initial release. Legal proceedings regarding the case are expected to continue.
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