Nigerian Banks Woo Arrested Doctor Turned Hacker

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The police may have softened their tough stance on Dr. William Michael, the Nigerian medical doctor turned world class hacker, following the moves by some commercial banks to engage him for online banking security services for their businesses.

P.M.EXPRESS exclusively gathered that  Dr. Michael who claimed that he had the capacity to pull out N1bn within 67 minutes from any bank in Nigeria  without the banks knowing, had attracted immediate reactions over his claims.

He had carpeted the banks security systems in Nigeria saying that they were porous and it was very easy to hack into any bank account and pull out any amount, send alert from the bank internet system to defraud customers. These claims were said to have got the attention of many banks who knew he was right in his claims. They therefore became interested in order to solve the problem of fraud experienced in the banking systems in Nigeria.

When P.M.EXPRESS correspondent visited the Police Command Headquarters, banks officials were seen making discreet enquiries on Dr. Michael. It was also gathered that some top bank officials have already shown much interest in him and were open to engage him, in order to utilize his intelligence and mastery of the internet banking business in Nigeria.

The development was also confirmed by police sources who believed that the police may consider giving Dr. Michael some considerations after he might have made restitutions.

When our correspondent contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, he did not deny it but said he cannot talk about it for now because investigations were ongoing on the matter.

There has been more reactions over the arrest and the revelation of Dr. Michael, as he even used the opportunity to advise the Nigerian banks to work on their security systems.

Some members of the public said that the Federal Government should engage the suspect, change his criminal mind for positive purposes and use him in the banking sector to minimize the incidences of internet fraud.

Some said that in developed countries, such a person will not be paraded but will be rehabilitated and engaged for positive things. But few others said that he had committed a criminal offence and as such should be prosecuted since the crimes he committed had many victims.