Nigerian socialite Henry Ikeji has broken his silence on allegations linking him to a $2.5 million online romance and investment scam, confirming that funds entered his account but maintaining the claims against him are distorted.
Speaking with AIT on Wednesday, Ikeji pushed back against reports accusing him of defrauding a Romanian woman of $2.5 million, calling the online narrative misleading.
Authorities at Nigeria’s National Cybercrime Centre are reportedly examining an investigative documentary that alleges Ikeji posed as the Crown Prince of Dubai to execute an elaborate romance and investment fraud. The documentary claims the scheme cost the alleged victim approximately $2.5 million.
Responding to the allegations, Ikeji acknowledged that the funds were deposited into his account in naira, while questioning the way the story has been framed publicly.
The money was paid to me from a naira account. While I’m explaining this, I feel there is a targeted plan to destroy my reputation because, as it stands now, nobody believes me, he said.
He described how the accusations have damaged his personal and professional life. All my people that believe in my reputation are now doubting me. Friends have distanced themselves, and the internet is filled with claims that I scammed a Romanian woman, Ikeji said.
Ikeji offered no documentary evidence to support his version of events during the interview but insisted the prevailing narrative is harmful to his reputation.
According to earlier reports, the alleged scheme began when a Romanian woman identified as Laura in a documentary by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project was contacted on LinkedIn by someone claiming to be the Dubai Crown Prince.
Police officials have confirmed the investigation remains in its early stages, with authorities currently profiling publicly available information.
