‘Money entered my account’ – Henry Ikeji finally speaks on $2.5 romance scam allegation

Nigerian socialite Henry Ikeji has spoken for the first time on the $2.5 million online romance and investment scam hovering around his name, revealing that funds had entered his account while insisting the allegations are being misrepresented.

Ikeji, who spoke with AIT on Wednesday, rejected reports that he defrauded a Romanian woman of $2.5 million, insisting that the narrative circulating online is misleading.

Police at Nigeria’s National Cybercrime Centre are reportedly reviewing an investigative documentary which alleges that Ikeji impersonated the Crown Prince of Dubai to orchestrate a sophisticated romance-cum-investment fraud. The documentary claims the scheme resulted in the alleged victim losing approximately $2.5 million.

Addressing the allegations, Ikeji stated that the funds in question were paid into his account in naira, and questioned the motives behind how the story was being presented 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 added that the accusations have strained his personal and professional relationships. “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 did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate his claims during the interview but maintained that the ongoing narrative is damaging.

According to earlier reports, the alleged incident began when a Romanian woman, identified as Laura in the documentary published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, was contacted on LinkedIn by someone claiming to be the Dubai Crown Prince.

Police officials have stated that the investigation is still in the profiling stage, analyzing information available publicly.