The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has commenced investigations into a Nigerian socialite, Nzube Ikeji, who is accused of impersonating the Dubai Crown Prince in a sophisticated $2.5 million romance scam targeting a Romanian woman.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the National Cybercrime Centre, Uche Ifeanyi, confirmed the development in an interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, stating that authorities are currently profiling the suspect following widespread media reports and online circulation of the allegations.
The investigation follows a viral documentary released by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which alleged that Ikeji orchestrated a romance and humanitarian investment scam that reportedly defrauded the victim—identified only as Laura—of about $2.5m.
According to the documentary, the alleged fraud began roughly three years ago, after Laura was contacted on LinkedIn by an account claiming to belong to the Dubai Crown Prince. The account reportedly gained her trust before soliciting large sums of money under the guise of romance and investment opportunities.
The report further claimed that internal disputes within the fraud syndicate eventually led to the exposure of the scheme. One disgruntled accomplice was said to have contacted Laura directly, revealing the true identity of the alleged impersonator as Nzube Henry Ikeji and sharing a video purportedly showing him at a newly acquired luxury mansion.
Members of the documentary team reportedly travelled to Abuja, where they collaborated with journalist Chikezie Omeje to track down the suspect. Using activity on Ikeji’s Instagram account and that of his wife, the team allegedly succeeded in locating him.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, CP Ifeanyi said the police had begun analysing the documentary but were yet to receive a formal complaint from either the victim or the documentary producers.
“We are still at the profiling stage,” Ifeanyi explained. “The information currently available to us is what we have gathered from social media. There has been no direct report from the woman involved or the documentary team. We are carefully verifying the facts.”
When asked if profiling of the accused had commenced, the commissioner responded, “Yes, that process is already ongoing.”
He added that once sufficient evidence is established, the police would proceed with appropriate legal steps, including a possible arrest of the Nigerian socialite.
