There is a popular saying: “Every day for the thief, one day for the owner.”
That day may finally be approaching for Nigerian socialite Nzube Henry Ikeji, who has been accused of orchestrating a massive international romance scam.
According to an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Henry allegedly impersonated Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the real Crown Prince of Dubai, to defraud a Romanian businesswoman of more than $2.5 million.
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How the Alleged Scam Started
The investigation claims the scheme began about three years ago when Henry contacted a Romanian businesswoman identified as Laura on LinkedIn.
Using the identity of the Dubai Crown Prince, he told her he was interested in funding humanitarian projects in Romania.
He asked Laura to recommend reputable foundations that needed financial support.
At first, the relationship appeared strictly professional.
But after months of constant communication, it gradually turned romantic.
Eventually, the fake “prince” proposed marriage.
Laura was then told she needed to pay certain customary and financial fees related to their engagement.
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The London Meeting
Henry later instructed Laura to travel to London to meet his supposed financial manager, Matthew Cros, who would help coordinate the humanitarian investment and open a Barclays account in her name.
Investigators later discovered the “financial manager” was actually Dr. Martins Abhulimhen, a Nigerian socialite and philanthropist who runs the Jose Foundation.
Dr. Abhulimhen allegedly claimed he handled financial matters for the Emirati royal family.
His social media accounts show photos with prominent figures, including:
• Muhammadu Buhari
• Nasir El-Rufai
• Babajide Sanwo-Olu
• Godswill Akpabio
Laura reportedly met him several times in London. Unknown to him, she brought a friend along who secretly took photos of their meetings.
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The Fake £202 Million Account
The scammers later gave Laura login details for an account supposedly containing £202 million in her name.
But investigators later confirmed the account was completely fake.
To access the funds, Laura was told to pay £7,000 in processing fees.
After already sending large sums to the fake prince over time, she paid without hesitation.
Each withdrawal attempt triggered new fees.
By the time she realised something was wrong, Laura had already transferred about $2.5 million.
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The Scam Begins to Collapse
The operation reportedly began to unravel when disputes broke out among the conspirators over how to split the money.
A man identified as James Patrick Normoyle, who claimed to be a financial adviser, contacted Laura and warned her to stop sending money.
He told her the scammers had already taken over €3 million from her and that many of the documents she received were fake.
Shortly afterward, Dr. Abhulimhen also contacted Laura and admitted that the supposed multimillion-pound account was fake, describing it as:
> “A lie from the pit of hell.”
He also claimed the impersonator had deceived her using “African black magic.”
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The Victim Confronts the Fake Prince
Laura eventually confronted the man she believed was Sheikh Hamdan.
But he dismissed her concerns and accused his financial manager of trying to ruin their relationship.
When she demanded a refund, he refused.
At that point, one of the conspirators reportedly turned on the group and revealed the identity behind the fake prince:
Nzube Henry Ikeji.
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How Investigators Tracked Him Down
Investigators were able to track Henry partly through social media.
His wife, Confidence Amara Ikeji, posted photos online celebrating the purchase of another mansion and thanking God for blessing the family.
These posts helped investigators identify and locate him.
Henry’s social media accounts also showcased a luxury lifestyle, including:
• Business-class flights
• Designer shopping trips
• Foreign vacations
• Expensive cars like a Lexus LX570 and 2020 Range Rover Vogue
• Luxury watches
Friends reportedly nicknamed him “Excess Money.”
He also holds traditional titles, including:
• Sarkin Gabas Matasan of Nasarawa
• Ojichukwu Ndi Igbo na South East (awarded in 2024)
Like his alleged associate, Henry also runs a humanitarian foundation that distributes food to the less privileged.
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What Law Enforcement Says
When OCCRP journalists confronted Henry at his Abuja residence, he denied impersonating the Dubai Crown Prince or scamming Laura.
He admitted knowing Dr. Abhulimhen but declined to answer questions about money transfers linked to his Nigerian Zenith Bank account.
Henry claimed the funds he received were donations to his foundation, not proceeds from fraud.
Meanwhile, British authorities identified Dr. Abhulimhen as a key figure who received money from Laura in the UK and transferred it to Nigeria.
A UK court has since seized £113,000 from his account, which will be returned to the victim.
Dr. Abhulimhen has resigned as president of the Jose Foundation.
The Nigerian government has confirmed the case is currently under investigation.
As of now, no formal charges have been filed against either man.
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Watch the Full Investigation Below
