A high-profile investigation has unmasked a sophisticated Nigerian crime syndicate that allegedly defrauded a Romanian businesswoman of over $2.5 million. The group was led by prominent socialite Nzube Ikeji, who reportedly posed as a member of the Dubai royal family to execute the scheme.
The details of the operation were made public on Monday in a report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
The scam began on LinkedIn, where Ikeji allegedly used the alias of Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the Crown Prince of Dubai). He initially approached the victim identified only as Laura under the guise of seeking professional advice on funding humanitarian initiatives in Romania.
What started as a professional consultation slowly transitioned into a deep personal bond and eventually an online romantic relationship. Leveraging this trust, Ikeji reportedly proposed marriage and convinced Laura to begin covering “engagement costs.”
The syndicate employed a classic “advance-fee” tactic, supported by elaborate digital deceptions. Laura was directed to London to meet Dr Martins Abhulimhen, an associate of Ikeji who used the alias “Matthew Cros.”
The scammers provided Laura with login credentials for a spoofed online bank account showing a balance of £202 million in her name.
The “Sunk Cost” Trap, to “unlock” the funds, Laura was asked to pay an initial fee of £7,000. Each subsequent attempt to withdraw the money was met with new demands for fees, eventually totaling roughly $2.5 million.
The elaborate facade crumbled not because of external policing, but due to internal greed. Disputes over the “sharing formula” of the stolen millions caused a rift within the syndicate.
In a surprising turn of events, a disgruntled member of the group contacted Laura to reveal the truth. This was later confirmed by Dr Abhulimhen himself, who reportedly told the victim, “He defrauded you of more than 3 million euros.”
The OCCRP investigation further revealed that Ikeji and Abhulimhen moved in elite circles, maintaining connections with several prominent Nigerian figures, including billionaire Obi Cubana, Arthur Eze, and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
