British-Nigerian convicted for his son's abduction escapes after being mistakenly released from prison

A British‑Nigerian citizen, Ifedayo Adeyeye, who was serving a custodial sentence in the United Kingdom for the abduction of his son, has reportedly escaped after being released by mistake.

The error came to light during court proceedings on Monday. Officials at HMP Pentonville failed to inform police of the release promptly, allowing Adeyeye several days to remain at large before the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) launched a nationwide search.

According to a report by The Telegraph UK on Tuesday, a judge had ruled in June that Adeyeye unlawfully removed his son, Laurys Adeyeye, from the child’s mother, Claire N’Djosse, in France and took him to Nigeria via the United Kingdom.

The child, born in France, had lived with his mother since birth.

The court heard that the alleged abduction took place on 27 July 2024, marking the first night the boy spent with his father.

After allegedly failing to return the child in accordance with a UK court order, Adeyeye was arrested on his return to Britain and sentenced to six months in prison in January for contempt of court.

He received an additional 12‑month term on 20 April after reportedly refusing to comply with orders to facilitate the child’s return to his mother.

However, the court was later informed that Adeyeye was mistakenly released the following day because the new sentence had not been properly communicated to the officials responsible for inmate releases.

At a hearing on 1 May, the court criticised what it described as a serious delay and lack of urgency by prison authorities after the erroneous release.

The judge noted that the situation could likely have been avoided had the police been notified immediately.

“If the police had been contacted immediately, this could perhaps, almost certainly perhaps, have been prevented. The public is entitled to expect far better than this,” the judge said.

During Monday’s hearing, investigators indicated that Adeyeye may have travelled to Spain shortly after gaining his freedom and was believed to have left the UK on 22 April.

In a statement to the court, the Metropolitan Police said authorities recognised the seriousness of the case and the distress it caused the child and his mother.

“We are using the powers at our disposal to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry to locate and arrest [Adeyeye] and will continue to do so diligently and expeditiously,” the police said.

The Telegraph UK added that the incident reflects a broader issue within the prison system, citing Ministry of Justice data that 179 inmates were mistakenly released between April 2025 and March 2026.