The High Court has ordered the extradition on fraud charges to Germany of a Nigerian man who is said to be of "significant interest" to the UK authorities in connection with their investigation into the finding of a child's headless torso in the River Thames.
Mr Samuel Koulibaly (37), who is also known as Samuel Onojighovie, and Samuel Ighovie, was said to be of "significant interest" to the UK authorities in connection with their investigation into the discovery of a boy's headless corpse near Tower Bridge in London, into the trafficking of persons and into the activities of a cult group known as the "Guru Maharaja" which, it is claimed, is involved in ritual killing.
Yesterday, Mr Justice O Caoimh granted an order for Mr Koulibaly's extradition to Germany on foot of 15 counts alleging forgery. The order was granted on the application of Mr Patrick McCarthy SC, for the DPP.
The court was told that, at about the same time as the German extradition order was sought, a request for the issuing of warrants to search Mr Koulibaly's house in Tallaght had come in from the UK Metropolitan Police Service.
Mr Koulibaly has been in custody since July last when he was arrested at a house at Alderwood Green, Tallaght on the afternoon of July 1st, 2003.
He opposed the order through his counsel Mr Michel Forde SC on the grounds that his detention was unlawful. The judge rejected those arguments. The court was told that, in a statement to gardaí, Mr Koulibaly had denied that he was a member of the Guru Maharaja. Mr McCarthy read to the court sworn information by Det Supt John O'Mahony of the National Bureau of Crime Investigation. The sworn information was in support of the issuing of search warrants regarding Mr Koulibaly's house in Tallaght.
Supt O'Mahony said the UK police understood that the boy found in the Thames was brought into the UK and murdered by a Nigerian group known as the Guru Maharaja.
It was further thought, Supt O'Mahony said, that Samuel Onojighovie was a leader of the group known as Guru Maharaja and that he practised ritual killing within the group.