The Federal High Court in Kaduna State has sentenced Onah Henry Chinonso, better known as Sandra Morales, and Puklong Michael Longhom, also known as Robertech, to prison for internet fraud.
The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted the convicts on separate one-count accusations of criminal impersonation on social media.
Chinonso’s charge reads: “That you, Onah Henry Chinonso (a.k.a Sandra Morales), male, sometime 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.”
When the allegations were read to them, the duo pleaded guilty, prompting prosecution attorney Musa Usman Gadaka, who appeared along with Mariya Nasaude Usman and Fatima Ustaz Usman, to urge the court to convict and sentence them appropriately.
Justice R.M. Aikawa then convicted and sentenced Chinonso to five years in jail or a fine of N500,000.00, or five hundred thousand Naira, while also punishing Longhom with four years in prison or a fine of N500,000.00, or five hundred thousand Naira.