Popular Nigerian journalist and broadcaster, Joey Akpan, has opened up on a shocking incident in Algeria where he lost a huge sum of money to hotel cleaners, and how persistence and the swift action of the Algerian police helped him recover it within just 48 hours.
Sharing his story on X, Akpan narrated how he had neatly arranged his foreign currency on the table in his hotel room before stepping out for breakfast. He tucked away $200 in his jeans pocket and left the rest of his money in the room, only to return after nearly two hours to find the cash missing. According to him, he immediately suspected the hotel cleaners and wasted no time in taking the matter up with the management.
He stormed to the guest relations desk and openly accused the cleaners of stealing his money, rejecting the hotel manager’s attempt to dismiss the issue as a case of “missing money.” Akpan insisted it was not missing but stolen, and he demanded a proper investigation. His insistence led to a review of the CCTV footage, and although the money wasn’t immediately found, he stood his ground, calling witnesses to confirm he indeed had the cash before the incident. Security personnel, engineers, and managers even searched his hotel room thoroughly in his presence, but the money was still not recovered at the time.
The Theft
“They stole my money in Algeria, I started an investigation, caught the culprits, and took them to the police. Over there, where they only speak French and Arabic, the police is really your friend.”
Akpan explained that after spending nearly two hours at breakfast, which included coffee, reading, and cigarettes, he returned to his room to discover it had been completely cleaned and his 6000 Algerian dinars alongside his dollar stash had disappeared. Without hesitation, he raised an alarm and pushed for accountability.
Confrontation and Investigation
The initial confrontation with hotel staff was tense, but his refusal to be dismissed forced the hotel management to act. The cleaners were questioned, searched, and evidence began to build up. Akpan revealed that even though the money wasn’t immediately traced, his credibility was backed by colleagues who confirmed the exact amount he had been carrying. Determined to get justice, he made it clear that he would not rest until his money was found.
Breakthrough with the Police
By evening, things took a dramatic turn as Akpan was taken to the police headquarters. With the help of his translator — the hotel’s head of security — he filed an official report in Arabic. There, he was informed that the cleaners had confessed and returned his money. The hotel quickly tried to make amends by apologizing, upgrading him to a luxury suite on the 14th floor, compensating him with free drinks, and offering him loyalty program benefits. Grateful for the swift resolution, Akpan accepted the recovery of his funds and the new accommodation.
Although the case was prepared for court, Akpan chose to close the matter, stressing that his priority was the return of his stolen money. He expressed appreciation to the hotel management for standing by him and to the Algerian police for their professionalism and friendliness during the ordeal. In his words, the officers not only helped him get justice but also shared light-hearted moments, showing him pictures of their cats and discussing music, which turned an unpleasant experience into one that restored his faith in the system abroad.
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They stole my money in Algeria, I started an investigation, caught the culprits, and took them to the police. Over there, where they only speak French and Arabic, the police is really your friend.
One morning, I woke up in my hotel room, counted and arranged my cash on my…
— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) September 15, 2025
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