A Nigerian socialite, Nzube Henry Ikeji, allegedly posed as the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to defraud a Romanian woman of millions of dollars in an elaborate romance scam, according to an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
The scheme targeted a woman identified only as Laura, who was contacted on LinkedIn three years ago by a profile claiming to be the Emirati royal. The initial pretext involved seeking advice on Romanian humanitarian foundations for potential investment. This professional interaction gradually evolved into a personal, and eventually romantic, online relationship.
As the "prince" deepened the connection, he asked Laura to meet his financial manager, "Matthew Cros," in London to arrange funding and open a Barclays account for her. During these meetings, which were secretly photographed by a friend accompanying Laura, "Cros" was identified by British police as Martins Abhulimhen, a Nigerian socialite and former NGO head.
Laura was later given access to an online account showing a deposit of approximately £202 million in her name—a completely fabricated balance. To unlock these funds, she was instructed to make a series of "unlock" payments, starting with £7,000. Over time, she wired over £2.5 million, believing each payment was the final step to accessing the fake fortune.
The scam began to unravel due to internal conflict among the conspirators in Nigeria over the distribution of the stolen money. A person claiming to be a financial adviser, James Patrick Normoyle, contacted Laura to warn her the entire relationship and associated financial documents were fraudulent. Subsequently, "Matthew Cros" (Abhulimhen) also turned informant, revealing to Laura that she was a victim of "African magic juju" and that the prince was an impostor.
When confronted, the fake prince dismissed the warnings as sabotage, but Laura's suspicion was cemented. After pleading for a refund and more information, the cooperating conspirator identified the man behind the "Sheikh Hamdan" persona as Nzube Henry Ikeji, providing details and videos of his Abuja mansion that led journalists to his location.
The investigation highlights a sophisticated syndicate exploiting international romance scams, with links to Nigerian high-society figures. OCCRP journalists tracked Ikeji to an estate in Abuja, though the full extent of the network and potential other victims remains under scrutiny.
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