EFCC Gets Ballistic Vests From U.S. Police

Source: THEWILL. - thewillnigeria.com

* Returns 350,000 Euros Cars To German Police

SAN FRANCISCO, August 22, (THEWILL) - The Philadelphia Police Department in the United States of America has donated 24 high-end ballistic vests to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to enhance the operations of the anti-graft agency, the EFCC said Monday.


The support from the US Police came even as the Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri has ordered the immediate release of three posh Mercedes Benz cars worth over 350,000 Euros recovered from fraudsters by EFCC operatives in Lagos, to the German police.

The vehicles were fraudulently shipped to Lagos in February 2009 by a Nigerian fraudster, John Aban and two German accomplices who had already been arrested, prosecuted and convicted in Germany.

The German Police thereafter contacted the EFCC for assistance on the case. The vehicles were later traced and recovered from a compound in Victoria Island, Lagos where they were kept.

The German police had in a letter of appreciation to the EFCC thanked the Commission “for the prompt and professional reaction to my request leading to the seizure of the three luxury vehicles.

“I was really impressed though not surprised since I have experienced your cooperation over the past three and a half years”, Dominik Muller, the Police liaison officer said in the letter.

Impressed by the EFCC efforts to tackle corruption in Nigeria, the Philadelphia police department had at the 244th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia early this year, promised to assist the anti-graft agency with logistic support. This promise was promptly followed up with the donation of the ballistic vests, which were shipped to Nigeria about two weeks ago.

While acknowledging the support from the US Police, the EFCC Chairman in a letter on Monday August 22, 2011 said the vests will help against attacks on operatives of the Commission.