A 25-year-old armed robber, Paul Avortide, alias Tinted has been handed a 19-year sentence following a robbery incident that occurred on May 21, 2025, at Tsikpota near New Housing in Ho.
According to police, at about 4:00 a.m. on that day, the convict wielded a machete and robbed a pregnant Nigerian woman, Ogechi Chidiebere, of GH¢3,000 and her Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone, valued at GH¢2,500, while she was on her way to the Ho Municipal Hospital for antenatal care.
Investigations led to the arrest of a second suspect, 23-year-old Harmony Nbonu, alias Arab Money, on June 19, 2025, at the Ho main market.
He was found in possession of the stolen mobile phone and disclosed during interrogation that he had purchased it from Paul Avortide for GH¢850.
Police intelligence, in collaboration with Nbonu, tracked Avortide to Matse, a suburb of Ho, where he was arrested while attempting to flee.
Both men were arraigned before the Ho Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Osman Abdul Hakeem, Esq, on July 1, 2025.
Avortide pleaded guilty to robbery and was convicted on his own plea. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison with hard labour.
His co-accused, Harmony Nbonu, who was charged with dishonestly receiving, was acquitted and discharged.
Avortide has since been handed over to the Ho Regional Prisons to begin his sentence.
The Volta Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring public safety and vowed to continue its efforts to track down individuals who pose a threat to peace and security in the region.
