Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, a 19-year-old Nigerian student studying in the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of robbery and blackmail offences. The sentencing took place on Monday, July 27, 2026, at Leicester Crown Court. His co-defendant, 20-year-old Richile Vangu, received an 11-year jail term along with a three-year extended licence period, bringing the combined sentence handed down by Judge Steven Evans to 18 years.
Details of the Attack
The court heard that on November 21, 2025, Akinrinola and Vangu orchestrated a coordinated assault on guests attending a party in North Kilworth, Leicestershire. At least eight male victims were forced into a bedroom at knifepoint, where a large "zombie-style knife" was brandished. Vangu, who used the alias "Trixta," demanded each victim transfer £1,000 and threatened to stab anyone who refused. The victims were also compelled to perform a dance, which was recorded and later uploaded to TikTok.
Further Abuse and Evidence
Prosecutors detailed that after the party, some victims were taken to student accommodation on Bath Lane in Leicester, where additional abuse occurred. Akinrinola forced victims to perform physical exercises such as star jumps and high knees before repeatedly punching them. Vangu was accused of whipping victims with a belt, firing a BB gun at them, waxing their faces, and threatening to cut off their dreadlocks. Judge Steven Evans described the conduct as "torture" and noted that Vangu displayed a "complete absence of empathy." He also stated that while Akinrinola was "subservient" to Vangu, he played "an essential part" in the offences. Vangu later posted videos from the incidents on TikTok, which were used as evidence during the trial.
Convictions and Acquittals
Vangu was convicted of four counts of robbery, ten counts of blackmail, and one count of actual bodily harm. Akinrinola was convicted of four counts of robbery, nine counts of blackmail, and two counts of actual bodily harm, but was acquitted on one blackmail count. Two other defendants, Benjamin Osadolor, 19, of Northampton, and Ayomide Ibraheem, 19, of London, were found not guilty of all charges.
Family Disputes Conviction
Before sentencing, Akinrinola's parents, Aderinkola and Olayinka Akinrinola, issued a public statement contesting their son's guilt. They argued that the conviction was based largely on circumstantial evidence and his association with Vangu, whom they said he only met after enrolling at Leicester University in September 2025. According to the family, "Our son is innocent of the charges against him. The police argument against him is that he is guilty by association with the prime suspect." They claimed no stolen goods were recovered from his home, no money transfers from victims were traced to his accounts, and CCTV footage only showed him arriving at the venue rather than participating in the robbery. The family stated that Akinrinola voluntarily approached police after seeing footage linking him to the incident, but the court proceeded to convict and sentence him regardless.
