A British-Nigerian man, Ifedayo Adeyeye, who was serving a prison sentence in the United Kingdom for abducting his son, has reportedly gone missing after being mistakenly released from custody, prompting a police manhunt.
The incident occurred after officials at HMP Pentonville failed to properly communicate details of a newly issued sentence, leading to his accidental release without alerting law enforcement authorities.
According to reports, Adeyeye had been convicted after a court ruled that he unlawfully removed his son from the child’s mother in France and transported him through the United Kingdom to Nigeria. The child, born in France, had lived with his mother since birth before the incident.
He was later arrested and sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court after failing to return the child as ordered. He subsequently received an additional 12-month sentence for continued non-compliance with court directives.
However, he was released shortly after the second sentencing due to administrative errors, giving him a head start before authorities realised the mistake and raised an alarm.
The court later criticised prison officials for what it described as a lack of urgency and poor coordination, warning that the situation might have been avoided if police had been informed immediately.
At a subsequent hearing, it was revealed that Adeyeye may have left the United Kingdom shortly after his release, with indications suggesting possible travel to Spain.
The Metropolitan Police Service said efforts were ongoing to locate and arrest him, stressing that all available resources were being deployed to resolve the case and ensure his return to custody.
Authorities also noted that the incident reflects a broader issue of administrative errors in the prison system, with multiple cases of wrongful releases recorded within the same period.
