A woman has recounted her terrifying encounter with a suspected fraudster, Joseph Efe, who was recently apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command. The 30-year-old was paraded on September 20 after a distressing incident captured in a now-viral video surfaced from a room at the Top View Hotel in Abuja.
FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, stated that Efe has been known to target women via dating websites, often referred to as “coded runs,” with the intention of robbing them of their possessions and accessing their bank accounts. During a press briefing, Efe admitted to meeting the victim on a “hookup site” prior to the incident.
The victim, identified as Olivia Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, explained that she had connected with Efe months earlier while visiting Abuja from her home in Enugu for business. "When I arrived at the hotel, he asked me if I was afraid of death," she recounted, adding that Efe attempted to intimidate her by claiming that if she did not comply, he would harm her.
Chukwuemeka described the harrowing moments that followed, stating, "He slapped me and ordered me to undress. When I tried to escape, he locked the door and kept the keys." She reported that Efe initially bound her hands with her clothing and when that proved ineffective, he resorted to using cellophane tape to restrain her. To muffle her cries for help, he turned up the volume on the television and covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
Efe allegedly stole her mobile phone, accessed it using her thumbprint, and demanded her bank details. However, upon discovering that her account had no funds, he issued a stark warning for her to remain silent before fleeing the room.
After Efe left, Chukwuemeka noticed movement outside and recognized the uniform of hotel staff. In a desperate bid for help, she managed to bang on the window, signaling for assistance. Fortunately, a hotel employee responded to her distress and helped her get out of the nightmare.
