Hand phone | File Image
By Val Obienyem
Kindly follow up on the discussion with the thief who hacked Dr. Chike Ohamobi’s line.
Hacker: Good evening how are you doing today?
Hacker: Please I need a favour from you
Hacker: Good morning how are you doing today?
Val: Good morning Dr.
Hacker: I want to send money to someone and it’s not going through…
Hacker: I don’t know if you can help me send it to the person’s account details N386,000.
Hacker: I will send it back first thing tomorrow morning by 9:00 a.m.
Val: Which account?
Hacker: Bank name: Union Bank
Acct name: Richard Kelechi
Acct no: 0228143568
My Observation
A thief boldly exposed himself by providing a bank account for his illegal activities. This reflects the audacity of criminals who act with confidence, knowing that, in the end, they are unlikely to face consequences.
Meanwhile, the victim – Ohamobi – whose phone was hacked, would face a series of obstacles if he reported the crime to the police.
He would be required to pay to incident the crime, pay for the case to be assigned, pay for opening of a file, and pay to secure a court order to place the account on hold.
With such a complicated and corruption-ridden system, how can we hope to combat crime effectively?
Even if the victim manages to report the crime for fear of being arrested as the owner of the device, he might refuse to fund further investigations, fearing further and inevitable exploitation for which many Nigerians abandon their cases- at the end one would spend more that he lost.
We must remember that crime is against the state and not just the individual, yet the state often does little, leaving victims to bear the burden alone.
Instead of addressing these systemic issues, some, like Mr. Joe Igbokwe, dismiss complaints and label critics as unpatriotic.
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This indifference only deepens the tragedy of a system that fails its citizens and hinders national progress.
Why does the government not empower the police to immediately request banks to place the accounts of suspected criminals on hold, bypassing the protracted and cumbersome court processes that can take weeks?
In that time, a criminal could easily transfer funds, erase evidence, or even flee the country.
Streamlining this process would significantly enhance the efficiency of crime prevention and investigation.
The current system not only favours the perpetrators but also frustrates victims and undermines public trust in law enforcement.
For a nation striving to address complex security challenges, such inefficiencies highlight the urgent need for reforms that prioritise swift and decisive action.
Until we address these systemic flaws, we will continue to lag behind in our fight against crime.
Truly, there is much work to be done in this country.
.Obienyem, a lawyer and public affairs analyst, writes from Awka, Anambra State.
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