Aderinkola and Olayinka Akinrinola are formally requesting a legal review for their son, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, who was convicted of robbery and blackmail by a UK court on June 19, 2026. Currently detained at Nottingham Prison, he is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27. His parents maintain his innocence, labeling the conviction a miscarriage of justice.
The couple argues that the prosecution relied on circumstantial guilt, linking their son to the primary suspect, Richile Vagnu. According to the parents, the evidence provided merely consisted of a photograph of the two together and CCTV footage of Oluwatobiloba entering the building where the robbery later occurred. They emphasize that no footage places him at the actual scene of the crime.
The parents noted that their son, a University of Leicester student, only knew Vagnu as a casual acquaintance. Although Oluwatobiloba was present at the party on November 21, 2025, his family claims he left immediately upon seeing the disturbance. Furthermore, they pointed out that police found none of the stolen items in his possession, nor was there evidence of any financial transfers linked to his bank accounts.
Highlighting inconsistencies in the trial, the couple noted that some victims testified to his non-involvement, with one witness even suggesting he attempted to assist them. They expressed frustration that other individuals identified by victims were not pursued by authorities. The family remains hopeful that the Nigerian government and human rights groups will assist in their appeal for a comprehensive review of the case to prevent what they view as a permanent stain on their son’s future.
