toolbar builder Bazo's Jist: August 2011

Sunday 28 August 2011

8 dumbest moves by big-time criminals



You've got your burglary tools. You've got a blueprint of the target. You've even got a rock solid alibi who is willing to lie under oath that they saw you somewhere else at the time of the crime, but did you remember to pack the most important tool of any high society crime i.e. your brain? These brainless idiots didn't.

1.) The Great Train Robbery Gang Robbers The word “great” has long been associated with this infamous 1963 heist of nearly 2.3 million pounds, but the “great” part only refers to the heist itself and not the “not-so-great” things the robbers did with the money after they lifted it. Then again, the “Not-So-Great Train Robbery” really doesn’t look as good on a movie poster. The men behind the infamous heist celebrated their massive loot by playing a game of Monopoly using the money they had stolen in place of the proper fake money that came with the game. When a nearby resident alerted police to the suspicious activity in the barn where they hid out, police found the Monopoly game and extracted several fingerprints from it that led to their inevitable captures. [BBC]

2.) The Newton Boys' Train Robbery These infamous band of bank and train robbing brothers had set their greedy eyes really high when it came to knocking over banks and money transports for their personal gain. They were also pretty good at it too, until they panicked and got caught. During their famous 1924 robbery of a money train that netted them more than $3 million in cash, one of the gang members accidentally shot Willis Newton during the heist. One of the hostages heard the gang called the wounded “Willie” and police found him being cared for in a home just outside of Illinois. The rest of the gang panicked and took off in the hopes they could elude the authorities and Jesse found himself in a drunken stupor in Mexico where he buried his share of the money. The only problem is he forgot where he buried it and it was never found since a federal agent met him at the border. [Legends of America]

3.) The Dunbar Armored Car Robbers Sometimes all it takes is a tiny, almost microscopic scrap of evidence to unravel the most careful of plans. In this case, they couldn't have been dumber if they left the rental truck receipt for the getaway car at the scene of the crime. One of the biggest armed robberies in American history would have become the most successful and profitable robberies if the men behind the 1997 Dunbar armored car holdup in Los Angeles hadn’t left behind a piece of the U-Haul van they rented to carry the $18.9 million they stole at gunpoint. The piece of the broken tail light left at the loading dock led police to the rental agency where they picked up the vehicle just moments before the robbery and that not only gave them their identities, but also their addresses, phone numbers and even their personal identification. [Associated Press]

4.) The Belagio Casino Robber This crime draws a lot of rather easy comparisons to the heist pulled by the boys of the popular caper film Ocean’s 11 and that’s really not fair. Not only did the fake movie thieves get away with their crime, but they also had the good sense to keep their mouths shut. The producers behind the film who thought it needed two more sequels is another matter entirely. Anthony Carleo could have scored one of the biggest casino hit jobs in Las Vegas history when he took more than $1.5 million in chips from the Belagio Casino. His greed and bravado got the best of him. He actually went back to the casino and gambled away more than $100,000 of the chips he stole and he bragged about the crime to anyone would listen or at least had a competent sense of hearing. He even told his plan to a poker dealer three days before the robbery, a dealer who worked for the very casino he was about to rob. [Las Vegas Journal-Review]

5.) The Florida Yacht Caper Child actors are often portrayed as lost souls who feel cheated by the industry that spawned and rejected them and need to exact their revenge against the society that no longer loves them by committing a felony or two. And normally, that would be true if 99.99999 percent of them didn't perpetuate it by doing exactly that when they became adults. Brad Renfro, the deceased movie child star of Apt Pupil and The Client, tried to steal a yacht with a friend worth over $175,000 parked in a Fort Lauderdale dock just days before he was scheduled to shoot another movie. Their plot was foiled when they forgot to untie the big boat from the dock and as they hit the gas pedal (or whatever the boat’s equivalent is to a gas pedal), the boat lurched forward, then swung back and crashed into the dock. Some witnesses dragged them off the boat and held them down until police arrived. [ABC News]

6.) The Knightsbridge Safe Deposit Robbery Ringleader The poet Maya Angelou once said, “There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.” If that’s the case, meet the world’s worst metaphorical tightrope walker. Viccei was a lifelong luster for women, money and power. He modeled himself after Al Pacino’sScarface who would make a perfect role model if your goal is to become completely out of touch with reality and sloppy with details. More than anything, he wanted to be known as the mastermind of the world’s biggest robbery and he got his wish in 1987 in London where he organized the $40 million pound Knightsbridge safe deposit caper, a heist that took meticulous planning and precision cunning to achieve. Shortly after the caper, he fled the country to Colombia and would have gotten away with it if he just stayed put. Instead, he stayed in London to make plans to bring his beloved Ferrari Testerosa with him. They not only arrested him but also his girlfriend and all but two members of his gang. [“The World’s Greatest True Crime” on Google Books]

7.) The Other Belagio Casino Robbery Casino may be one of the most heavily guarded and secure casinos in the whole of human existence, but that hasn't stopped people from trying to beat the house. It helps if you aren't that intelligent in the first place. The first mastermind behind the Belagio robbery actually had a fairly successful 10-year spree of knocking over casinos such as the MGM Grand and the Desert Inn. In 2000, however, his attempt to steal $1.5 million from the Belagio resulted in his arrest after he failed to adequately disguise himself from the casino’s many high-tech security cameras. When he knocked off the Belagio, he only wore a baseball cap and sunglasses to protect his identity and just about every camera he walked in front of gave security and police a clear enough identity to broadcast on local Las Vegas stations for four days straight until his inevitable arrest. [The Daily Mail]

8.) The Antwerp Diamond Heist One of the dumbest things any crook, whether they use a gun or wonky accounting to get what they want, can do to get caught is leave a trial for the authorities to find. The gang who committed this high priced diamond heist couldn't have left a clearer trail if they used actually breadcrumbs. The thieves who broke into a vault in Antwerp in 2003 on Valentine’s Day weekend actually went to a great deal of detail to get the loot quickly and confuse the authorities once they fled the scene. They would have gotten away with $100 million in diamonds if they had left an actual paper trail that brought authorities to their doorstep. As they fled the scene, they accidentally dumped loads of incriminated garbage in a wooden area in Belgium that was being regularly patrolled for litterbugs. The garbage contained incriminating details such as receipts for surveillance equipment, business cards for security consultants and even a few loose diamonds. [Wired]


World's oldest person celebrates 115th birthday

The world's oldest person has celebrated her 115th birthday.

Besse Cooper, who is listed as the world's oldest person, marks her 115th birthday Photo: AP

Besse Cooper's birthday celebrations were held at her residence in Monroe, Georgia – although this year, unlike last, there was no Elvis impersonator at the party.

A researcher from Guinness Book of World Records was on hand at Mrs Cooper's birthday party to deliver the Tennessee native her second plaque that certifies her as the oldest person on the planet.

"We thought one was enough," said her son, Sidney Cooper, 76.

"She still remembers things and thinks clearly and talks.

"But she has her good days and her bad days. I'd say she sleeps about 80 per cent of the time."

Born in Tennessee in 1896, Besse Cooper moved to Georgia during World War in search of work as a teacher. She married her husband Luther in 1924, and they had four children. Today she has 12 grandchildren and more than a dozen great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

In the same year Mrs Cooper was born, the first Dow Jones Industrial Average was published, the first modern Olympic Games were held and the first Ford vehicle was built.

"She never worried," says her son.

Besse Cooper told local newspapers that her secret to longevity lies in two key tenets.

"I mind my own business," she said. "And I don't eat junk food."

Cow takes highway leap of faith and gets stuck on safety barrier

A kooky cow trying to avoid traffic found itself in a pickle after becoming stuck on a roadside safety barrier.

 



The animal was stalking the roads in the Italian mountain village of Montecorvino Rovella-Salerno when it decided to head toward greener pastures. 

But, misjudging the height of the railing as it took a leap, the cow's front and hind legs became separated by the safety rail - which is normally supposed to keep cars from crashing down the mountainside. 

Local mechanic and amateur photographer Roberto Marano was driving towards the village when he spotted the bonkers bessie - and took a snap to show his family and friends.

Luckily the resourceful bovine managed to wriggle free without the need for human intervention and carried on grazing in the forest. 

Arsenal boss Wenger 'hurt' by humiliating Man Utd defeat


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits to being hurt and humiliated by his side's 8-2 defeat by Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Frenchman accepts his players "collapsed physically" during the drubbing at Old Trafford and were "terrible" in the last 20 minutes.

Wenger apologises to Gunners fans for the performance but remains hopeful his young squad will recover, bolstered by possible signings in what remains of the August transfer window.

Sir Alex Ferguson delighted as rampant Man Utd crush Arsenal

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hails his side's display as they crush Arsenal 8-2 in an amazing match at Old Trafford.

However, Ferguson concedes Arsenal were "very, very weakened, perhaps missing eight players" and outlines his respect for Arsene Wenger's achievements.

Ferguson also revels in the quality of United's goals, picking out Wayne Rooney's two free-kicks, Nani's chip and Ashley Young's two strikes for special mention.

Ferguson also says Danny Welbeck's hamstring injury will rule him out of England's upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers, as the striker faces "four to five" weeks on the sidelines.

Terry says no-one's safe while sending out warning to new-look United

John Terry fears for his place under Andre Villas Boas, and warned Manchester United they will struggle this season without the experience of the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.


Terry went on to reveal new Chelsea boss Villas-Boas’s priority this season is winning the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, and that European champions Barcelona holds no fears for Chelsea.


But it is his comments about his own standing in the squad that will cause most surprise, as the 30-year-old revealed his fears about missing out.

Tough talker: John Terry says no one is safe at Chelsea

'Nobody is untouchable – not me, not anyone,' he said.

'Some people suggest that Lamps [Frank Lampard], Didier [Drogba] and me have been here for too long to feel concerned. But it’s the opposite. 

'We are the ones who make sure the team is a unit every day, who set the example – because if you don't care during the week, you can’t have the will to win at the weekend. 

'But to say that we have been here for too long is total rubbish. We are the ones who really want to win.

'People said [previous coach] Carlo Ancelotti was easy-going, but me, I really feared losing my place last year, when we had a bad patch of games.

'Carlo had us feeling that nobody was safe, myself included. And that’s the same today. Nobody is sure of starting every game. 

'There are times in a season when you win games and you feel you are certain to start every game, and that’s the moment when you slip.'

Terry has seen Chelsea just complete the transfer of Juan Mata from Valencia, their first summer signing of a player set to challenge for the first team straight away (other new faces Romelu Lukaku and Oriel Romeu will be given time to settle, while Thibault Courtois is on loan at Atletico Madrid), while champions United have spent big money on Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea.

Out with the old, in with the Young: Ashley Young joined United this summer
But Terry is not convinced that United’s spending-spree will make any difference to the season ahead. 

'I don't think the difference between United and us has changed this summer,' he continued. 

'They clearly have bought players to build for the future. I like Phil Jones a lot. Chris Smalling looks really good too. Ashley Young, of course. 

'When you look at their team it's set up for the future. But, in the short term, I don't see much difference in their team this season compared to last season. Apart from Young, their regular players will be the same.

'I think they might be affected by the fact they lost a few experienced players. Last year, the same happened to us and that made a difference.

'Players like Michael Ballack brought a lot to the team. We missed that.'

Vital experience: Chelsea suffered after Michael Ballack left

Chelsea also lost experienced pair Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho 12 months ago.

'We started the season incredibly, but we struggled against supposed weaker teams. This will have to change this season. 

'Last May, we spoke between ourselves, not in a formal way, but on the bus for instance, and we told each other what hadn't been working. 

'When those situations arise again, and it will happen because you always lose games in a season, we will be better equipped to react.'

Chelsea's Drogba given all-clear after being knocked unconscious

Didier Drogba was rushed to hospital on Saturday after an aerial clash with Norwich keeper John Ruddy left him unconscious an hour into Chelsea's 3-1 victory. 

Leaping for a cross into the Norwich penalty area, both players had eyes only for the ball when Ruddy inadvertently punched Drogba as the keeper tried to clear.



The striker appeared to be unconscious as he fell, crashing to the turf in front of the Matthew Harding Stand and he did not move as ambulance staff and Chelsea's medical team raced towards him, encouraged by Ruddy's urgent beckoning. 


'Didier is a little bit better and showing some signs of recovery,' said manager Andres Villa-Boas immediately after the game.

'I am grateful both to my players, the Norwich players and the medical staff for reacting so quickly to a potentially very dangerous situation. They arrived there in time to bring Didier back to consciousness.




'He was unconscious for quite some time, a couple of minutes, I think. I didn't see the incident up close, but it looked nasty from the bench. It was natural, physical contact, though, the sort that happens in a game, and we know that these things can happen, so we must praise the response of everyone involved.' 


Drogba was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington where scans showed no signs of injury and he was later allowed home at his own request.

Ruddy was not to blame but his eventful afternoon also ended prematurely when he was sent off for a professional foul on Ramires, conceding the penalty which saw Chelsea regain the lead.




They went ahead through Jose Bosingwa, only to be hauled back by Grant Holt's acrobatic strike. 


After Frank Lampard regained the lead from the spot, Juan Mata scored a debut goal in added time. Norwich boss Paul Lambert was enraged by the 'disrespectful' attitude of Chelsea's fitness coach Jose Mario Rocha when Ruddy was dismissed. 


Rocha ran into the technical area to demand that referee Mike Jones show Ruddy a red card, leading to an ugly clash.




'You'd better ask the guy with the stopwatch what that was all about,' said Lambert.


'He came hurtling into my technical area, and that's disrespectful. I don't know what he said, I don't speak Portuguese, but if he understands Glaswegian then he'll know what I said.'


Friday 19 August 2011

World's Sexiest Accents.

A foreign language can be the best aphrodisiac.. The following are the 10 hottest accents in the world.

1. Italian 
Raw, unfiltered and as grabby to ears as its presidents is to rears, the Italian accent is a vowelgasm that reflects the spectrum of Italic experience: the fire of its bellicose beginnings … the romance of the Renaissance … the dysfunction of anything resembling a government since Caesar. Insatiable, predatory and possessive, this is sex as a second language.

2. French
The demotion of this perennial prizewinner of global brogues to second place may illustrate the declining sexuality of Old World petulance. Still, the come-hither condescension and fiery disinterest of the French tongue remains paradoxically erotic.



3. Spanish
Sensual and beckoning, but with the passion to unleash hell kept just barely restrained, Castilian is like a dialectic Hoover Dam. But then there’s the lisp. Tender, vulnerable and cute as a baby’s hangnail -- no one owns the “th” sound formed by tongue and teeth like those who speak the language of Cervantes.

4. Czech
Like Russian, without the nettlesome history of brutal, iron-fisted despotism, Czech is a smoky, full-bodied vocal style that goes well with most meats. Murky and mysterious, the Bohemian tone is equal parts carnal desire and carnival roustabout.


5. Nigerian
Dignified, with just a hint of willful naiveté, the deep, rich “oh’s” and “eh’s” of Naija bend the English language without breaking it, arousing tremors in places other languages can’t reach. Kinda makes the occasional phone scam worth the swindle.









6. Irish
Valued slightly more in men than in women, the Irish brogue is a lilting, lyrical articulation that’s charming, if not exotic. Fluid and uplifting, it can swing from vulnerable to threatening over the course of a sentence, restoring your faith in the world again … right before it stabs you with a broken bottle top.


7. Oxford British
Authoritative. Upright. Erudite. Scholarly. Few accents promise the upward nobility of the Queen’s English. It’s a take on the language that sets hearts devoted to James Bond and Hermione Granger aflutter. And, should the speaker fail to slake your most wanton desires, eh, at least you’ll learn something.



8. U.S. Southern
There’s nothing sexy about being in a hurry, and you could clock the growth rate of grass with the honeyed drawl -- less Tea Party, more “True Blood” -- of a Southern beau or belle.





9. Brazilian Portuguese
Perhaps owing to its freedom from French influence, the Brazilian Portuguese accent has a more colorful, puerile flair than its coarser European counterpart. The resulting yowl of drawn-out vowels reveals a flirty freedom of spirit that sounds like a permanent vacation.




10. Trinidadian
For fetishists of oddball sexuality, the Caribbean island of Trinidad offers an undulating, melodic gumbo of pan-African, French, Spanish, Creole and Hindi dialects that, when adapted for English, is sex on a pogo stick.


Monday 8 August 2011

Married Couple In The Same Photo As Children

Young newly weds Alex and Donna Voutsinas were looking through some of Donna's old photos from when she was a child and came across one of her at Disney World. Nothing too unusual about this, you may say.

Donna is at the front of the photo, see above, with one of the Disney characters and then Alex spotted something - his dad!

Yes, it's his dad in the background of the photo pushing a stroller (pushchair) and, of course, in the stroller is Alex.

A remarkable coincidence because the families didn't know each other back then and, to make it even more remarkable, at the time of the photo Alex lived in Canada and Donna in Florida.

It looks like their lives touched upon each other when they were young ready for the big romance in later years. Fate? Kismet? Who knows.


Coincidence??

The Duelist
Henri Tragne from Marseille fought five duels beween 1861 and 1878. The first four duels he won because his opponents dropped dead before bullets were even fired. The fifth duel he lost before his opponent could fire his gun.

Baby Boom
Joseph Figlock was walking down a street in Detroit in the 1930's when a baby fell from a window onto his head. A year later the same baby fell from the same window onto him...they both survived!!

Similarity
Franz Richter, a 19 year old volunteer in the Austrian Transport Corps following WW1 was admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia. In the same hospital was another Franz Richter, also 19 years old, also suffering from pneumonia. He was also a volunteer in the Austrian Trans. Corps. Both were born in Silesia.

Bingham and Powell
Three men travelling by train in Peru one day found that they were the only people on the train. Introducing themselves, they found the first one's surname was Bingham, the second's was Powelland the third mans name was Bingham Powell.

Taxi Killer
Erskine Lawrence Ebbin and his brother Neville both died, exactly a year apart, at the age of 17. They were both riding the same moped in Bermuda, which was hit by the same taxi, which was carrying the same passenger, on the same street.

Tick Tock
An ornate clock belonging to King Louis XIV of France stopped at the precise time of his death, 7.45 A.M. on September 1, 1715.. it has never run since.

Killer Coat
Jabez Spicer was killed by two bullets in the attack on the federal arsenal at Springfield in 1787. At the time he was wearing the coathis brother Daniel was wearing when he too was killed by two bullets in 1784. The bullets that killed Jabez passed through the holes made by the bullets that had killed his Brother.

Slow Bullet
In 1883 Henry Ziegland jilted his sweetheart, who then killed herself. Her Brother tried to avenge this by trying to kill Ziegland, but the bullet only grazed Ziegland and embedded itself into a tree. The Brother believing he had killed Ziegland, then shot himself. In 1913 Ziegland was cutting down the tree with the bullet in it. Being a tough task he used dynamite which when it exploded sent thebullet through Zieglands head, killing him !!

Ruptured Buddies
On a June night in 1930, police patrolman Allan Falby, from Texas, had a car crash and ruptured an artery in his leg. The bleeding was so severe that he would have died if it wasn't for the intervention of a passer-by calledAlfred Smith. He applied a tourniquet to Falby's leg, and saved him. Five years later, when Falby was back on the beat, he was called to the scene of a car crash. There, he found a man with a ruptured artery in his leg. It was Alfred Smith, the same man who had rescued him before in identical circumstances.

Identical Twins Parallel Lives

Identical twins were born in Ohio in 1939 and they were adopted by different families. In 1979 they were reunited and it was then that they noticed the coincidences in their lives.

They had both been called James but were known as Jim (different surnames, of course: Lewis and Springer) and each of them had law enforcement training. Both twins married a girl called Linda and had a sons' called James - one was James Alan and the other James Allan.Jim and Jim both likes carpentry as a hobby, favoured St.Petersburg in Florida as a vacation beach and both had a dog called Toy.

The Complete Biography Of Sam Loco Efe


Sam Loco Efe was one of the most talented actors in the Nigerian Movie Industry. He distinguished himself for many years as a rare talent for both television and stage drama.
The Complete Biography Of Sam Loco Efe…in his own words when he was still alive.
I am Sam Loco from Benin in Edo State. Many people misplace my surname for a Delta man. Efe is a Benin name although the Urhobo people popularised it. Efe means Wealth in Benin as it also means in Urhobo but it means Cloth in Ibo. My surname is fully pronounced Efeeimwonkiyeke, meaning wealth has no time limit.One can be wealthy at 90 when people must have lost hope. What actually happened was that my grandmother was having only female children and after so many years, she gave birth to my father at an old age and when he arrived, the name given to him is “you see now my wealth has finally arrived.” I later inherited this from my father as I was the last of my parents children and the only male child.


The beginning
I was born here in Enugu, but I spent my childhood in Abakaliki and a modest attempt at becoming an actor was what triggered my passion for the stage. There was a time, Government College, Umuahia came to Abakaliki with a production. We all got so excited and I said to myself that if these men can stay on stage before a large audience and render their lines without looking into any book or script, there must be something magical about it.
A few bold ones among us asked them some questions after the production and they said it was a matter of training and perseverance. So, when they left, I attempted a play that was larger than our collegiate level. I decided to produce William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. I acted Caesar and also directed it without any formal training.

Education
Going to school in the East then was tough. It was not like the Western Region where students got everything free. It was tough for us, so my nephew and I alternated street trading on a yearly basis to enable the other acquire education. But because of the staccato arrangement, I must confess that I had to attend so many primary schools.
I was a very good footballer and so I went to almost ten secondary schools playing football and getting scholarships here and there and I was stubborn as well. As I was being admitted into one, I was being expelled from another.

Challenges in Nollywood
I can say that the movie industry began with genuine theatre and movie people. As soon as things started getting better, charlatans found their ways into it. In their legion now there are a mixture of purpose, some are in Nollywood not because of the urge to be a Thespian nor the willingness to learn but I believe that as time goes on, we shall flush such people out. This is a house I helped to build and it would be madness for me to allow people with no history to rubbish the much that has been achieved.
Story lines of Nigerian movies
I would not say that I am satisfied but I would rather say that I am happy with the progress made so far. Critics in Nigeria like to jump the gun. How old is Nollywood? We cannot deny that the story lines are getting better, even as we cannot deny that the performers are also helping to make things get better. However, there is a need for continued training by the stakeholders in the industry. But we shouldn’t deny that progress is been made.
Best paid job
I think Langbodo was my first truly well paid job. Being a national production we were well paid. I was being treated like an egg because I played the lead role. On screen, I think it’s my best paid job.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Sam Loco Efe died yesterday on location, in his hotel room in Owerri, Imo State. He was directing a film titled 'Unknown Prophet'.

Veteran Actor, Sam Loco Efe Passes.


ACE actor and comedian Sam Loco Efe – one of the best known faces on television soaps and Nollywood – died yesterday. He was 69.
He was found dead in his Rapour Hotel room in Amaakaohai on Orlu road in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The late actor’s body was found in his Room 204 in the hotel.
An actor, who declined to be named, said in Owerri that he accompanied the late Efe to his room at about 11 pm on Saturday. He said at about midnight, the late actor called to remind him of an appointment for noon yesterday.
He said he was astonished to be invited by the hotel management yesterday afternoon when Efe’s whereabouts became unknown, yet his room was locked.
A peep after a climb through the window revealed Efe’s lifeless body “without his shirt on. His inhaler was by his side and we had to call in the police,” he said.
The body of the deceased was removed and taken to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, he said.
At the hotel premises yesterday, there was calm but people were seen discussing it in groups. 
A socialite, Efe was seen within his group of friends cracking jokes on Saturday night.
Although the hotel management declined to speak on the tragedy, Imo State Police spokesman Linus Nwaiwu said, “We have received the information on the death of Sam Loco Efe from the hotel. Our homicide unit is still working on the information.”
“Yes, it is true that Sam Loco passed away tragically in his hotel room. I will be making a statement on Monday (today). I can’t say much now because I want to verify the details, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President Segun Arinze said yesterday. 
National Secretary of the AGN Chuma Onwudiwe also last night confirmed Efe’s death.
Onwudiwe described him as, “a polyglot, actor extraordinaire, father to many of us, intellectual and a man of immense stature.”
Efe spoke Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa fluently, though he hailed from Benin, Edo State. 
He once told an interviewer: “I seem to have a knack for languages. I had the interest to learn the languages as well. There is no language that is not important. I can speak Hausa 40 per cent; Igbo and Yoruba, 100 per cent. Of course, I can speak Benin language 100 per cent.
“I am from Benin. Most people keep saying I am from Benue. Some say I am an Ogbomoso man. Others feel this is ‘Omo Ibadan.’”
Efe performed on stage and Television for over 47 years, 35 of those years were in the movies. 
The thespian, who became an instant hit when he was voted the best actor for his role in Lagbodo, Nigeria’s only drama entry at the historic FESTAC 77, died a few months after the passing on of another veteran actor Ashley Nwosu, and about a month after another legendary entertainer Christy Essien-Igbokwe.
For many years, he distinguished himself as a rare talent for both television and stage drama. In the 70s, he acted the lead character, Picado Suberu in Hotel De Jordan - a live drama series - and later acted Chief Ukata Biribiri, the only Ibo Chief in the play.
He also played a lead role in Langbodo during the Festac 77.
He was born in Enugu, but spent his childhood in Abakaliki. A modest attempt at becoming an actor was what triggered his passion for the stage. While at school, he produced William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in which he acted Caesar and also directed it without any formal training.
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola described Efe as an extraordinarily gifted thespian whose mastery of his craft on both stage and screen was unrivalled. 
In a condolence letter to the President of AGN President, the governor said. Efe was a cultural model who truly belonged to the class of greats in the world of creative arts, 
“It is indeed heart rending to think that the very familiar face and very likeable humour merchant whom I had known since my teenage years has taken a final exit from life’s stage”, the letter stated. 
We have indeed lost a rare gem. May the soul of Sam Loco Efeeimwonkiyeke rest in perfect peace.