25-Year-Old Sentenced to 19 Years for Robbery of Pregnant Woman in Ho

The Ho Circuit Court has handed down a 19-year prison sentence with hard labour to a 25-year-old man, Paul Avortide, popularly known by the alias “Tinted,” after he admitted to robbing a pregnant woman at knifepoint.

Police reports indicate that during the early hours of 21st May, 2025, Avortide, wielding a machete, approached Ogechi Chidiebere, a pregnant woman, and robbed her of an amount of GHc 3000 and a Tecno Spark 30c valued at GHc 2,500. This incident took place near the new Housing area in Ho. The victim, Ogechi Chidiebere, was reportedly on her way to the Ho Municipal Hospital for antenatal care around 4 am.

A subsequent investigation led officers from the Volta Regional Police Command to arrest a second individual, 23-year-old Harmony Nbonu, also known as “Arab Money,” on June 19 at the Ho Main Market. He was found in possession of the stolen phone. During interrogation, “Arab Money” revealed that he bought the phone from Avortide for GHc 850.
This piece of information led to a search for Avortide. He was found and apprehended at a hideout in Matse, a suburb of Ho.

Avortide was charged under Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended. During court proceedings presided over by His Honour Osman Abdul Hakeem, the accused pleaded guilty and was convicted on his plea. He has since been transferred to the Ho Regional Prison to begin serving his sentence. Nbonu, who was charged separately for dishonestly receiving stolen property under Section 146 of the same Act, was acquitted and discharged by the court.