A 19-year-old Nigerian student in the UK, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, and his co-defendant have been jailed for a combined 18 years after forcing victims to perform humiliating acts for social media during a violent robbery.
Akinrinola, of Slippers Place, London, was sentenced to seven years in prison at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, while 20-year-old Richile Vangu received an 11-year sentence with an additional three-year extended license period.
The court heard that the pair targeted partygoers in North Kilworth, Leicestershire, on 21 November 2025. Victims were threatened with a large “zombie-style knife,” robbed of designer items, and forced to transfer money under threat of violence.
Prosecutor details revealed that victims were subjected to severe physical abuse and humiliation, including being forced to perform star jumps, high knees, and dance routines for TikTok videos. Vangu also used a BB gun, a belt, and facial wax on victims during the ordeal.
Presiding Judge Steven Evans described the acts as “torture,” noting that while Vangu planned the scheme, Akinrinola played an “essential part” in carrying out the offenses.
Parents claim innocence
Akinrinola was convicted of nine counts of blackmail, four counts of robbery, and two counts of actual bodily harm. Vangu was convicted of four counts of robbery, 10 counts of blackmail, and actual bodily harm. Two other co-defendants were acquitted of all charges.
Following the trial, Akinrinola’s parents, Aderinkola and Olayinka Akinrinola, publicly appealed for a review of the case, claiming their son was innocent and merely “guilty by association.”
They maintained that Akinrinola did not participate in the robbery, no stolen property or financial transfers were linked to him, and he had voluntarily approached the police to clear his name after seeing social media videos of the incident.
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