A 25-year-old man, Paul Avortide, also known as Tinted, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison with hard labour after pleading guilty to robbery. The sentencing followed an incident that occurred on May 21, 2025, at Tsikpota, near New Housing in Ho, Volta Region.
According to police reports, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Avortide, armed with a machete, ambushed and robbed Ogechi Chidiebere, a pregnant Nigerian woman, as she made her way to the Ho Municipal Hospital for antenatal care. He made away with GH¢3,000 and a Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone valued at GH¢2,500.
Following police investigations, a second suspect, Harmony Nbonu, alias Arab Money, aged 23, was arrested on June 19, 2025, at the Ho main market. He was found in possession of the stolen mobile phone. During questioning, Nbonu revealed that he had bought the device from Avortide for GH¢850.
With the help of police intelligence and cooperation from Nbonu, Avortide was tracked to Matse, a suburb of Ho, where he was apprehended while attempting to escape.
The two suspects were arraigned before the Ho Circuit Court on July 1, 2025, presided over by His Honour Osman Abdul Hakeem, Esq. Avortide pleaded guilty and was convicted based on his own plea. He was subsequently sentenced to 19 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Meanwhile, Nbonu, who was charged with dishonestly receiving stolen property, was acquitted and discharged.
Avortide has since been transferred to the Ho Regional Prisons to begin serving his sentence.
In a statement following the conviction, the Volta Regional Police Command reiterated its commitment to maintaining public safety and assured the public of continued efforts to track down and prosecute individuals who threaten the region’s peace and security.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
