A 30-year-old Nigerian man, Friday Jeremiah Adejoh, wanted in the United States on charges of wire fraud linked to a romance scam, has been discovered living a lavish lifestyle in Dubai, according to an indictment filed in February 2024 that was previously unreported.
The indictment details multiple alleged victims, but focuses on an unnamed e-sport athlete who prosecutors say was defrauded of $1.3 million in bitcoin. Adejoh allegedly created a profile on a dating app using the name “Mabel” to coax money from the victim, who lived in Orange County, California, and earned a living through competitive online gaming.
According to court documents, Adejoh and a co-conspirator, Chekwube Odinaka Mefoh, set up a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called “Whalepool.tech.” They then convinced the victim to deposit bitcoin into wallets they controlled, promising commissions on the investments.
Just weeks after the alleged fraud, Adejoh purchased two properties in Dubai valued at approximately $860,000, using a passport from St. Kitts and Nevis. Land records show he still owns a one-bedroom apartment in the prestigious SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences.
Social media posts from Adejoh’s Instagram account, under the handle @jerradpb, painted a picture of opulence. Videos showed him cruising on a motor yacht off the Dubai coast, posing with a tiger at a zoo, and displaying luxury vehicles including a yellow Lamborghini Urus and a BMW motorcycle.
When contacted by reporters, Adejoh did not respond and subsequently deleted his social media accounts, though screenshots of his posts had been preserved. The case highlights the growing prevalence of romance scams since the COVID-19 pandemic began.