Alleged ‘fake Dubai prince’ arrested in Nigeria as another victim of romance scam emerges |
Authorities in Nigeria have arrested a man suspected of running an elaborate online romance scam after a recent investigative documentary exposed a fraudulent scheme involving the impersonation of Dubai’s crown prince. The case has drawn renewed attention after another woman from Romania came forward claiming she was targeted by the same operation.
The suspect, identified as Nzube Henry Ikeji, a 31-year-old Nigerian national, was reportedly taken into custody by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency following an investigation that linked him to an online fraud network. The arrest came shortly after journalists published findings showing how the suspect allegedly posed as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the real Crown Prince of Dubai, in order to lure victims into a romantic relationship and persuade them to send large sums of money.
The investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an international investigative journalism organization that focuses on exposing corruption and organized crime. In a documentary released last month, reporters outlined how the alleged scam targeted a Romanian businesswoman identified as Laura, who was ultimately defrauded of approximately $2.5 million through a prolonged online relationship.
Nigerian authorities acted within days of the documentary’s release. According to a spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ikeji was detained as part of an ongoing investigation. However, the agency has not yet filed formal charges against him.
Officials declined to provide further details, saying the investigation remains active. Attempts by journalists to contact the suspect for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Emails reportedly bounced back, and messages sent via WhatsApp were not delivered. Lawyers who previously represented Ikeji also did not respond to requests for comment.
In earlier statements to reporters, Ikeji denied involvement in any fraudulent activity and........