The parents of a Nigerian student convicted of robbery and blackmail in the United Kingdom have appealed to the authorities to review the verdict, insisting that their son was wrongly convicted and is innocent of all the charges against him.

Mr Aderinkola Akinrinola and Mrs Olayinka Akinrinola made the appeal in a statement released in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, following the conviction of their son, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, by a UK court on June 19, 2026.

He is currently being held in a prison in Nottingham pending his sentencing, scheduled for July 27.

The distraught parents alleged that the conviction was based largely on circumstantial evidence and their son’s association with the principal suspect in the case.

They explained that their son met Richile Vagnu shortly after resuming his studies as a first-year student at Leicester University in September 2025, describing their relationship as that of acquaintances rather than close associates.

“Our son was present at the party where the incident took place, but he was never involved in the robbery,” the parents said.

They claimed that some of the victims testified in court that Oluwatobiloba was not among those who robbed them and that he only briefly entered the room where the incident occurred, asked what was happening and left after making it clear that he did not want to be involved.

The parents further stated that investigators found evidence of money transfers made by victims to accounts linked to other suspects, but found no such transactions in their son’s bank records.

They also alleged that CCTV footage presented during the trial did not place their son at the scene of the alleged robbery, apart from showing him arriving at the party.

According to them, the police were unable to produce some of the suspects in court because they allegedly failed to honour police invitations.

The family further claimed that one of the victims testified that Oluwatobiloba appeared to be trying to assist those affected rather than participating in the crime.

They disclosed that shortly after the incident, their son came across a social media video that allegedly linked him to the attack.

Concerned by the allegations, he reportedly contacted the police voluntarily and offered to present himself for questioning.

According to the parents, officers informed him at the time that he was not considered a suspect.

Describing their son as a calm and sociable young man with no previous criminal record, the couple appealed to the UK authorities to re-examine the case.

They also called on relevant authorities, legal institutions and human rights organisations to look into the circumstances surrounding the conviction and ensure that justice is served.

The statement read in part, “Our son, Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, was wrongfully convicted of robbery and blackmail. We are Mr Aderinkola Akinrinola and Mrs Olayinka Akinrinola, parents of Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola, who was wrongfully convicted of robbery and blackmail by the UK government on June 19, 2026. He has been remanded in Nottingham Prison pending sentencing on July 27, 2026.

“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. The only evidence presented in court against our son is a picture he took with Richile Vagnu, the prime suspect, and CCTV footage showing him entering the venue of the party where the robbery took place on November 21, 2025. Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola met Richile Vagnu in October after resuming school in September as a fresher at Leicester University. They were, at best, acquaintances.

The parents’ statement added, “While our son was present at the party where the robbery took place, he was never part of the robbery. Some of the victims also confirmed this in court. As recorded in his statement, he briefly entered the room where the robbery was taking place, questioned the prime suspect about what was happening and then left, insisting that he did not want to be part of it.

“The robbery victims said they were robbed of their jackets and footwear, and none of the items was found in our son’s possession after police searched his apartment. The police said they found evidence that money was transferred by the victims to the accounts of the other suspects, Vagnu and Ayomide Ibraheem, but no such evidence was found in our son’s bank records.

“The court insists our son is guilty but allowed other suspects to go scot-free, including Ayomide Ibraheem, whom victims identified as the person preventing them from leaving the room during the robbery. In all the CCTV footage played by the police in court, our son did not appear at the scene of the crime. He was only seen entering the party. The police also failed to produce the other suspects in court, despite allegations that they received money from the victims. The police said they did not honour invitations.

“Victims testified that our son was not involved. In fact, one of the victims said he was trying to help them. A few days after the robbery incident, our son saw a misleading video online posted by a TikTok influencer linking him to the attack. He immediately contacted the police and told them he was willing to come in for questioning because he was not involved in the robbery. The police told him not to bother because he was not a suspect.

“Our son is a calm and sociable young man who has never been linked to any criminal activity before now. Please help us. We are devastated. We simply want the world to hear our side of the story. Our son is about to suffer for a crime he did not commit. His life is about to be destroyed for something he did not do. We want the UK government to review the case and ensure that justice is done.”

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At least 188 people have been killed and more than 1,500 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession, causing widespread destruction across the country’s northern region and triggering a major humanitarian emergency.

According to Venezuelan authorities, more than 200 people remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings, while rescue workers continue search-and-rescue operations in affected communities.

The earthquakes, which struck late on Wednesday, severely impacted the capital, Caracas, and the neighbouring coastal state of La Guaira, where dozens of buildings collapsed, the New York Times reported.

Officials said at least 250 structures were damaged, with more than 100 buildings reportedly destroyed in La Guaira alone.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described the disaster as a tragedy, saying emergency responders were engaged in intensive rescue efforts across the affected areas.

The earthquakes disrupted critical infrastructure, causing power outages, burst water pipes and widespread communication challenges.

Parts of Caracas remained without electricity on Thursday, while water services were interrupted in several northern states.

Authorities also suspended rail and metro services to facilitate rescue operations, while Simón Bolívar International Airport was closed after sustaining significant damage. Schools in affected areas were ordered shut for the remainder of the week.

The scale of the disaster was reflected in stories emerging from hospitals and rescue centres.

At the Universidad Central de Venezuela clinic in Caracas, relatives of 10-year-old Efraín Lucena said the boy had been rescued from a collapsed building in La Guaira and was in stable condition.

Family members said doctors were assessing severe injuries to one of his legs and considering whether amputation might be necessary.

According to relatives, the boy’s mother managed to pass him through a window to safety before becoming trapped in the rubble and dying. Another family member remained missing as rescue efforts continued.

Rescue operations have been complicated by Venezuela’s longstanding infrastructure problems, including unreliable electricity supply, deteriorating public services and limited healthcare resources.

Residents in some of the worst-hit communities reported digging through rubble themselves in search of survivors, citing a limited emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

In several locations, families and neighbours joined rescue efforts as they searched for loved ones trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Experts said the impact of the earthquakes was intensified because the two tremors occurred within a short period of each other and struck an area with geological conditions that amplified ground shaking.

The United States Geological Survey warned that many buildings in the affected region were constructed with materials highly vulnerable to earthquake damage, increasing the risk of collapse and contributing to the high casualty toll.

The hardest-hit areas included densely populated districts of Caracas and La Guaira, where residential towers, commercial buildings and homes were reduced to rubble.

Authorities also expressed concern about informal hillside settlements, where structures are often more vulnerable to seismic activity.

International assistance has begun mobilising, with Venezuela announcing that rescue teams and humanitarian support are expected from several countries, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and Qatar.

The death toll is expected to rise as emergency workers gain access to severely affected areas and continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured residents of Oyo State that the schoolchildren and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks on three primary schools in Oriire Local Government Area would be rescued unharmed.

The President, who also urged South-West governors to preserve the developmental legacy of their founding fathers, said the Federal Government was deploying all available measures, including international collaboration, to secure the release of the victims and tackle rising insecurity across the country.

The PUNCH reports that the schoolchildren and their teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire LGA on Friday, May 15, 2026,

Speaking during the inauguration of the newly remodelled and redeveloped Premier Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo State, Tinubu said the Federal Government was deploying all measures to secure their release.

He also said the government was addressing the rising insecurity across the country.

“I must at this point reassure the good people of Oyo State and indeed the South-West that the Federal Government is seriously addressing the upswing in banditry, kidnapping and associated criminalities across the nation,” he said.

The President, therefore, called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies through intelligence sharing and community collaboration.

“I urge all citizens to remain vigilant and to work collaboratively with security agencies.

“There is undoubtedly a huge role for traditional and faith-based institutions to play in this regard, and I urge them to take the lead through the various channels provided by government,” he added.

The President explained that economic growth could only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and security, adding that his administration had made substantial investments in strengthening the nation’s security architecture.

“Economic development can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, stability and security. That is why our administration has continued to invest significantly in strengthening the nation’s security architecture,” he said.

Tinubu explained that over the past three years, the government had enhanced inter-agency coordination, improved intelligence gathering, expanded technological surveillance capabilities, strengthened community-based security initiatives and increased support for the armed forces and security agencies.

“There is an ongoing process in the National Assembly targeted at enhancing policing at all levels. We hope to roll this out in no distant future,” he said.

He stressed further that his administration’s efforts were yielding measurable results across several parts of the country and would continue until every Nigerian could live and conduct business safely.

“These efforts are yielding measurable results across many parts of the country. We remain committed to ensuring that every Nigerian, every investor, and every visitor can live, work, travel and do business in safety and confidence,” he stated.

He said visitors and investors should be assured that Nigeria was becoming increasingly secure and attractive for investment.

“As guests look forward to using this magnificent facility from within Nigeria and from different parts of the world, they should be assured that our nation is becoming increasingly secure, increasingly connected and increasingly open for business.

“The combination of improved security, expanding infrastructure, economic reforms and strategic investments such as this Premier Hotel, therefore, conveys a strong message that Nigeria is moving steadily towards a more prosperous future,” he said.

Speaking on the remodelled Premier Hotel, the President described it as a landmark project that reaffirmed the commercial, cultural, and strategic importance of Ibadan and Oyo State.

Tinubu said, “Today, what we are celebrating is not just the reopening of a hotel, but the restoration of a true national icon.

“The transformation and modernisation of this facility remind us that heritage should not be abandoned to the passage of time.

“Rather, it should be preserved, renewed, and adapted to meet contemporary realities. In many ways, this project mirrors the rebirth of other iconic national assets across our country.

“It similarly demonstrates that our past can serve as a foundation upon which we build a stronger future.”

The President paid tribute to the visionary leaders of the old Western Region, adding that their enduring institutions continued to serve generations.

“Let me, at this point, pay well-deserved tribute to the visionary leaders of the old Western Region who established enduring institutions and development assets that have continued to serve generations.

“They, undoubtedly, understood that sustainable development required long-term thinking, strategic investment, and collective action.

“Their foresight laid the foundation for many of the economic and social achievements that continue to distinguish this region today,” he said.

The President said Nigeria was undergoing significant economic reforms aimed at laying the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.

“My presence here will not be complete if I fail to remind you, as stakeholders, that Nigeria is undergoing a significant transformation. We have confronted difficult structural challenges that constrained growth and investment for many years.

“The reforms we have undertaken are laying the foundation for a stronger, more competitive and more resilient economy.

“The signs of progress are becoming increasingly evident. Investor confidence is improving, strategic investments are growing, and key sectors of the economy are showing renewed momentum. Our foreign reserves have also attained the highest level in the last two decades,” he said.

While describing the rehabilitated hotel as a vote of confidence in the country’s future, the President said the project reflected optimism and belief in Nigeria’s economic prospects.

He said, “The newly transformed Premier Hotel is itself a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s future. It represents optimism, enterprise and belief in the opportunities ahead.”

He urged investors to continue investing in Nigeria, assuring them that the government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to flourish.

“As we celebrate this milestone, I encourage investors across the country and beyond to continue investing in Nigeria. Our nation offers tremendous opportunities, and our government remains committed to creating the conditions necessary for businesses to succeed.

“My charge to all stakeholders today (Thursday) is simple: let us preserve our heritage, embrace innovation, invest boldly in our future, create opportunities for our young people, and build institutions that will endure for generations.”

He, therefore, commended successive boards, management teams, and staff of Odu’a Investment Company Limited for preserving and strengthening the legacy through changing economic cycles and evolving business realities.

The President stated, “I also commend the successive boards, management teams, and staff of Odu’a Investment Company Limited for preserving and strengthening this legacy through changing economic cycles and evolving business realities.

“Their stewardship demonstrates that Nigerians possess the capacity and capability to build institutions that endure and remain relevant across generations.

“Let me particularly appreciate the governors and governments of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states for their commitment to repositioning Odu’a Investment Company as a leading regional investment institution.

“The success we celebrate today is powerful evidence of what can happen when governments synergise, leverage regional strengths, and create an enabling environment for enterprise to thrive.”

Speaking on the hospitality and tourism industry, the President described it as a growing enterprise globally.

“This is because across the world, there is monumental daily movement of goods and services driven by humans.

“With our population and size of our economy, opportunities for growth abound in Nigeria. That is exactly why hospitality and tourism occupy a strategic place under the diversification policy of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This objective is not just to attract tourists and investors but also to drive economic growth, job creation, foreign exchange earnings, cultural diplomacy, and urban renewal.

“Nigeria possesses enormous tourism potential, from our cultural heritage and historical sites to our creative industries, festivals, natural attractions, and vibrant cities.

“For this reason, our administration has prioritised policies and programmes that support tourism, culture, hospitality, entertainment, and the creative economy.

“We are investing in transportation infrastructure, airport terminals, improving road and air connectivity, strengthening digital services, simplifying business processes, and promoting public-private partnerships that attract investment into tourism-related enterprises.

“Through these interventions, we are positioning Nigeria not merely as a destination for business, but as a destination for leisure, culture, conferences, entertainment, and global engagement,” he stated.

Tinubu said he was particularly thrilled that the inauguration was taking place at a time the administration was implementing a bold regional development strategy across the country.

“Through the establishment and operationalisation of Regional Development Commissions, including the South West Development Commission, we are creating institutional platforms for accelerated infrastructure development, economic integration, investment promotion, and regional competitiveness.

“These commissions are designed to complement the efforts of state governments by unlocking regional opportunities in transportation, tourism, agriculture, technology, industrial development, environmental sustainability, and human capital development.

“For the South-West, with its rich history, entrepreneurial spirit, educational heritage, and cultural assets, the opportunities are limitless.

“We envision a region where improved connectivity, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism corridors, and world-class hospitality facilities work together to drive inclusive prosperity.

“It is on this ground that I have authorised that the South West Development Commission should work closely with the sub-national entities, development conglomerates like the Odu’a Group, the DAWN Commission and private investors to build a world-class economy within a thriving Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said the inauguration marked a significant milestone in the journey of restoring one of the most iconic hospitality landmarks in Nigeria.

Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Misbau Babatunde, said the Premier Hotel is more than just a hotel, but a symbol of collective history, a landmark that has occupied a special place in the social, economic, and cultural development of the state and the entire southwest region.

He commended the leadership of Odua Group of Companies, jointly owned by the governments of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos, for recognising the importance of the project and for taking deliberate steps to reposition Premier Hotel as a modern hospitality destination.

Earlier in his address, the Group Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Bimbo Ashiru, said the idea of Premier Hotel was conceived as the Western Region’s flagship hospitality asset, built alongside its sister properties such as Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna for the Northern Region, and Hotel Presidential in Enugu for the Eastern Region.

He said the choice of Mokola Hill as the location was both deliberate and symbolic, as the founding fathers selected the elevated terrain for several strategic reasons.

“First, to offer guests a naturally cool and refreshing climate, sheltered from the tropical heat of the valley below; second, to provide an unobstructed, breathtaking panoramic view of the ancient city of Ibadan, including landmarks such as Cocoa House, the Government Secretariat, and Bower’s Tower; and, third, to create a brilliant ‘lighthouse’ effect with its bright white walls and glowing nighttime lights, the hotel became visible from miles around, a radiant beacon of Western Nigerian hospitality and grandeur.

“For decades, this great edifice stood as the gold standard of luxury and service in West Africa.

“It was the preferred residence for heads of state, royal families, foreign diplomats, captains of industry, and discerning travellers from every corner of the globe.

“It hosted historic meetings, celebrated milestones, and created cherished memories for countless families. It was, without question, the pride of Ibadan and the heartbeat of South-Western hospitality.”

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