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.