Joseph Bakare
The Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna has convicted and sentenced Onah Henry Chinonso (a.k.a Sandra Morales) and Puklong Michael Longhom (a.k.a Robertech) to prison for internet fraud.
The convicts were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charges, bordering on criminal impersonation on social media.
Chinonso’s charge reads: “That you, Onah Henry Chinonso (a.k.a Sandra Morales), male, sometimes in May, 2024 in Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Sandra Morales (a female American, residing in Miami, United States) on ‘Facebook’ (an online social media application), with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc)Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
The count charge for Longhom reads: “That you Puklong Michael Longhom (a.k.a Robertech) sometime in May, 2024 in Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Robertech (a Tech expert) on social media platform (Instagram Application) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc)Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
Both pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Musa Usman Gadaka, who appeared with Mariya Nasaude Usman and Fatima Ustaz Usman to urge the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice R.M. Aikawa who presided over the matter thereafter convicted and sentenced Chinonso to five years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.00, (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), while he handed Longhom four years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) as well.
Both convicts were arrested at Bauchi Bypass in Jos, Plateau State, following credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet