Ho court jails man 19 years for robbing pregnant woman
By DL News
Published
2 min read
The court, presided over by His Honour Osman Abdul Hakeem, handed down the sentence after Avortide pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery.
A Ho Circuit Court has sentenced 25-year-old Paul Avortide, popularly known as "Tinted," to 19 years in prison with hard labour for robbing a pregnant woman at machete point.
The court, presided over by His Honour Osman Abdul Hakeem, handed down the sentence after Avortide pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery. The victim, Ms. Ogechi Chidiebere—a pregnant Nigerian woman living in Ho—was attacked in the early hours of May 21, 2025, while on her way to the Ho Municipal Hospital for antenatal care.
According to police prosecutor Detective Sergeant Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan, the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. near the Lord Hotel area in the New Housing suburb. Armed with a machete, Avortide confronted Ms. Chidiebere and threatened to slash her if she didn’t surrender her bag. Fearing for her life, the victim handed over her handbag containing GHS3,000 and a Tecno Spark 30c smartphone valued at GHS2,500. Avortide then vanished into the darkness.
Though physically unharmed, Ms. Chidiebere was left severely shaken by the traumatic experience. She reported the incident to the Ho Municipal Police, prompting an investigation by the Regional Intelligence Unit.
Police later arrested Harmony Nbonu, alias “Arab Money,” a 23-year-old phone dealer, after recovering the stolen phone from him on June 19. He admitted purchasing the phone from Avortide for GHS850 on the same day as the robbery.
Learning of Nbonu's arrest, Avortide attempted to flee on a motorbike but was apprehended. In his caution statement, he confessed to committing the robbery. The victim later identified both the assailant and the recovered phone at the police station.
While the court condemned the robbery as a “despicable and heartless act,” especially as it targeted a vulnerable pregnant woman, Nbonu was acquitted and discharged. The judge ruled that although he admitted to purchasing the stolen phone, there was insufficient evidence to prove that he had knowledge of the robbery or participated in it.
In delivering judgment, the court emphasized the need for deterrent sentencing in crimes that endanger women and vulnerable individuals. Avortide’s guilty plea and the aggravated circumstances of the crime resulted in a swift conviction and a 19-year custodial sentence.
