The parents of a Nigerian student, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, who was convicted by a United Kingdom court of robbery and blackmail, have appealed for a review of the case, insisting that their son was wrongly found guilty and had no involvement in the offences for which he is awaiting sentencing.
Mr. Aderinkola Akinrinola and Mrs. Olayinka Akinrinola disclosed that their son was convicted on June 19, 2026, and is currently being held at Nottingham Prison ahead of his sentencing scheduled for July 27.
Speaking to journalists, the couple described the conviction as a miscarriage of justice and called on the UK authorities to re-examine the evidence presented during the trial.
According to Mr. Akinrinola, “Our son is innocent of the charges against him. We believe he has been wrongfully convicted and is about to suffer for a crime he did not commit.”
The parents argued that the prosecution’s case was based primarily on what they described as “guilt by association” with the principal suspect, identified as Richile Vagnu.
Mrs. Akinrinola said the evidence presented against her son consisted mainly of a photograph showing him with the prime suspect and CCTV footage capturing him entering the venue where the incident later occurred.
She maintained that there was no CCTV footage placing him at the scene during the robbery itself.
The family explained that Oluwatobiloba met Vagnu shortly after beginning his first year at the University of Leicester in September 2025 and insisted that they were merely acquaintances rather than close friends.
According to his father, “Our son met him after resuming school. They were never close friends. They simply knew each other through campus.”
The parents acknowledged that their son attended the party where the robbery allegedly took place on November 21, 2025, but insisted he neither participated in nor benefited from the crime.
They claimed he briefly entered the room where the incident occurred, asked what was happening, and left immediately because he did not want to become involved, adding that his account has remained consistent throughout the investigation and trial.
The family further stated that police searches of their son’s accommodation did not recover any of the stolen property allegedly taken during the robbery.
According to them, the victims reported that jackets and footwear had been stolen, but none of those items was found in Oluwatobiloba’s possession.
They also challenged the financial evidence presented during the investigation, noting that while police alleged victims transferred money into accounts belonging to other suspects, there was no evidence that any funds were transferred into their son’s bank account.
The parents further claimed that some prosecution witnesses testified during the trial that Oluwatobiloba did not participate in the robbery.
According to Mr. Akinrinola, “Some of the victims told the court that our son was not involved. One even said he appeared to be trying to help them. We believe that evidence should have carried significant weight.”
The couple also questioned why other individuals whom victims allegedly identified as playing more direct roles in the incident were not prosecuted.
They argued that the differing legal outcomes raised serious questions that deserved further examination.
The parents also disclosed that shortly after the incident, their son voluntarily contacted the police after seeing a TikTok video suggesting he had been involved in the robbery.
Mrs. Akinrinola said he offered to present himself for questioning because he believed he had done nothing wrong and was reportedly informed at the time that he was not considered a suspect.
Describing their son as calm, sociable, and law-abiding, the parents said he had no previous criminal record and had never before been associated with any criminal activity.
His father said, “He is a young man with a promising future. We fear his life is about to be permanently damaged because of a conviction we believe is unjust.”
The family appealed to the Nigerian Government, members of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom, human rights organisations, and legal advocacy groups to support efforts aimed at securing a review of the case.
According to the couple, “We are devastated as parents. We are simply asking that the world hears our side of the story and that the UK authorities carefully review all the evidence. We are seeking justice for our son.”
Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola was found guilty of robbery and blackmail by a UK court on June 19, 2026, and remains in custody at Nottingham Prison pending his sentencing on July 27.
