A Nigerian socialite has been accused of impersonating a Dubai prince and allegedly defrauding a Romanian woman of roughly $2.5 million.
Authorities in the United Kingdom, Romania, and Nigeria are reportedly involved, and journalists tracking the case say it touches on a network of individuals whose public profiles are intertwined with prominent figures.
Social media footprints, public appearances, and online communications are all part of the ongoing investigation.
While the full scope of the events is still under review, the matter has already prompted legal and journalistic scrutiny, highlighting the complexities of international allegations involving high-value transfers and online interactions.
The Key Figures
At the center of this story is Nzube Henry Ikeji, a Nigerian socialite known within the country’s elite circles. Ikeji has been photographed alongside influencers, celebrities, and politicians, a social footprint that lent him a veneer of credibility. According to reports, he allegedly assumed the identity of Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, in order to execute a romance scam targeting a foreign victim.
Assisting Ikeji was Martins Abhulimhen, a fellow Nigerian socialite who initially used the alias Matthew Cros. British authorities later confirmed his identity. Abhulimhen played a key operational role in the scheme, acting as the supposed “financial manager” in London who facilitated meetings, financial instructions, and documentation. His involvement was essential in maintaining the illusion of legitimacy, a layer designed to convince the victim that the inheritance and bank accounts were real.
Together, Ikeji and Abhulimhen operated in a space where social credibility, visual proof, and carefully constructed narratives converged. Their positions within Nigerian society, paired with the sophistication of the online personas they created, allowed them to manipulate the perceptions of their target.
The victim, Laura, remains unnamed in full reporting, but her profile indicates a woman engaged with humanitarian initiatives, intelligent and socially aware, yet vulnerable to a carefully constructed long-term con that combined emotional attachment with financial manipulation.
How the Scam Worked
The scheme began over three years ago on LinkedIn, a platform traditionally associated with professional networking. Laura connected with a profile claiming to belong to the Dubai crown prince. The conversations initially focused on humanitarian projects and charitable initiatives, topics Laura cared deeply about. The tone was professional, respectful, and seemingly aligned with her own values.
Over time, the exchanges turned personal. The “prince” expressed interest in Laura’s opinions, her motivations, and her ambitions. He shared curated stories, photographs, and messages that strengthened his perceived credibility. Eventually, Laura was encouraged to meet someone who claimed to be the prince’s financial manager in London. This manager was later identified as Abhulimhen.
The supposed manager facilitated the opening of a Barclays bank account that was presented as being in Laura’s name
Laura was shown a fabricated account balance of over £202 million
She was asked to pay various fees, taxes, and administrative charges, all justified as necessary for accessing her funds
As the months passed, Laura transferred approximately £2.5 million (roughly $2.5 million) believing it was required to secure the inheritance or their shared future. The scheme was meticulously staged, leveraging not just financial inducements but emotional trust, creating a scenario where the victim’s belief in a relationship with the crown prince and the promise of wealth became inseparable.
Investigative Revelations
The fraud began to unravel when internal disputes arose between Ikeji and Abhulimhen. One accomplice disclosed the deception to Laura, revealing that the accounts, the inheritance, and even the royal identity were entirely fabricated.
Journalists with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) traced Ikeji to a luxury home in Abuja, Nigeria. They matched social media posts with real-world property, confirming his lifestyle and demonstrating a connection between his public persona and the online deception.
Abhulimhen was identified through photographs secretly taken by Laura’s friends during a meeting in London, providing further evidence of his operational role in the scam. The investigative process highlighted the sophistication of the fraud, which relied on cross-border digital interactions, social proof, and the manipulation of emotional investment.
Legal and Current Status
Ikeji has publicly denied the allegations, claiming that any funds received were charitable donations unrelated to fraud. Abhulimhen resigned from his NGO and has not responded publicly to inquiries regarding his participation.
A UK court seized £113,000 from Abhulimhen’s account, earmarked for restitution to Laura. Beyond this partial recovery, broader legal action is ongoing, involving coordination between Romanian, British, and potentially Nigerian authorities.
Despite the public attention, the Nigerian government has only announced an investigation; no criminal charges have yet been formally filed against either Ikeji or Abhulimhen. The case underscores the complexities of prosecuting online romance scams that cross international borders and involve multiple jurisdictions.
Broader Implications
This case is emblematic of romance scams, a category of fraud in which perpetrators cultivate emotional relationships to exploit trust. Several features of this type of scam are evident in the Ikeji-Abhulimhen operation:
Fake identities: The use of a Dubai prince persona lent the scheme apparent legitimacy
Social credibility: Public associations with celebrities and influencers reinforced perceived authenticity
Fabricated financial proof: The fake bank account and documents created the illusion of an enormous inheritance
Emotional leverage: The relationship aspect ensured continued compliance and minimized skepticism
Online romance scams such as this often exploit victims’ desire for connection, trust in authority figures, and cognitive biases that make repeated investment of both emotions and money psychologically difficult to resist.
Takeaway
The saga of a Nigerian socialite allegedly impersonating a Dubai prince and scamming a love-seeking Romanian woman out of $2.5 million is both a cautionary tale and a reflection of modern fraud in the digital age. Trust and emotion can be weaponized across borders. Sophisticated perpetrators, leveraging social credibility and elaborate digital narratives, can manipulate even careful victims over extended periods.
For investigators, journalists, and the public, the case underscores the need for vigilance, skepticism, and careful scrutiny of online relationships. It demonstrates that wealth, status, and visibility are not always markers of authenticity and that the human desire to connect can be manipulated with precision and sophistication.
The outcome of ongoing investigations will reveal more about the mechanisms, accountability, and restitution possibilities, but the story already serves as a clear example of how romance and money intersect dangerously in the digital era.