Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a Nigerian socialite, Nzube Henry Ikeji, over allegations that he posed as the Crown Prince of Dubai to defraud a Romanian businesswoman of $2.5 million in a romance and humanitarian investment scam.

The development was disclosed by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

According to the OCCRP in an update shared on Monday, the arrest occurred shortly after the release of its documentary investigation into the alleged fraud scheme.

“Within a week of the release of an OCCRP documentary exposing an online fraud operation, Nigerian authorities arrested a man allegedly involved in the scheme, while another apparent victim of the same scam came forward in Romania. In our documentary, Exposed: Fake ‘Dubai Prince’ Tracked to Nigeria, reporters identified Nzube Henry Ikeji, 31, who was afterwards taken into custody.”

The anti-graft agency, however, has yet to file formal charges against the suspect.

“Charges have not been filed, a spokesman for Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crime Commission told OCCRP.”

The report added that the suspect’s arrest followed revelations in the documentary about how the alleged scheme was carried out.

“Ikeji’s arrest came nearly a week after the video revealed how he allegedly posed as the real-life Crown Prince of Dubai, cultivating a romance that defrauded $2.5 million from Laura, a Romanian businesswoman.”

In February, investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed the identity of two highly connected Nigerians who allegedly posed as the Dubai Prince and the prince’s financial manager to scam a Romanian woman of more than $2.5 million.

The investigation showed that Nzube Henry Ikeji, a 31-year-old Nigerian who founded Nzube Ikeji Foundation, allegedly posed as the Dubai Prince while 60-year-old Dr. Martins Abhulimhen who is the founder of Jose Foundation played the role of the financial manager of the prince.

Both men are highly connected and they have been pictured with powerful people in Nigeria and abroad, including the Inspector General of the Police Kayode Egbetokun and his wife, Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, among others.

The alleged scammers also mixed with Cubana Chief and Obi Cubana, as well as Arthur Eze and other influential Nigerians.

According to OCCRP, Ikeji who allegedly posed as the Dubai Prince reached out to the Romanian businesswoman on Linkedin, wanting to invest in humanitarian projects in her native country. He then started an online romance and went to the extent of proposing marriage in which he convinced her to pay for their marital engagement as required by the socalled custom.

The fake prince later instructed the Romanian who OCCRP identified only by her first name Laura to meet his financial manager Dr. Martins Abhulimhen who posed as Dr. Mathew Croos in London.

Over a period of two years, Laura wired over $2.5 million to the alleged scammers which the London Metropolitan Police traced the money to Abhulimhen’s accounts in the UK and Ikeji’s accounts in Nigeria.