Nigerian entrepreneur and socialite Henry Nzubechukwu, also known as Nzube Henry Ikeji, chairman of Zube Sunstar Group and founder of the Nzube Ikeji Foundation, has publicly denied allegations that he masterminded a $2.5 million romance and investment scam while impersonating Dubai’s Crown Prince.
The controversy arose after the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) released a documentary in early February 2026 titled “How We Tracked a ‘Fake Prince’ Scammer to his Nigerian Mansion.” The report claims a Romanian businesswoman, referred to as Laura, was allegedly defrauded of over $2.5 million through a scheme that began around three years ago.
The OCCRP investigation states that Laura was first contacted on LinkedIn by someone posing as Dubai’s Crown Prince. The impersonator reportedly developed a romantic relationship with her, persuading her to transfer significant sums for supposed humanitarian projects and personal matters. The scam reportedly came to light when an associate, disgruntled with the operation, alerted Laura to the fraud and provided video evidence allegedly showing Nzube at a mansion in Abuja.
Following the documentary, Nigeria’s Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) confirmed it would investigate the matter, describing it as serious. Authorities from Nigeria, the UK, and Romania are reportedly involved, with some funds frozen, though no formal charges have yet been filed against Nzube Henry Ikeji.
In response, Nzube categorically denied all allegations, calling them “entirely false, malicious, and fabricated” to harm his business reputation. He labelled the claims defamatory, attributing them to a deliberate character attack by discontented parties. He stressed that he has never participated in fraud, romance scams, or identity impersonation.
Nzube has reportedly cooperated with agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide clarifications. His supporters have reinforced his position, describing him as a legitimate businessman with active ventures in technology and real estate.
The case has reignited conversations about the risks of online romance scams, impersonation fraud, and the difficulty of verifying identities in digital interactions. Romance scams remain a global concern, exploiting trust to extract substantial amounts from victims. As investigations continue, both authorities and the public await further updates on what has become one of Nigeria’s most prominent cyber fraud cases of 2026.
