Child sacrifice suspect remanded in custody

A 37-year-old Nigerian man, wanted for questioning in relation to the suspected human sacrifice killing of a boy in Britain, …

A 37-year-old Nigerian man, wanted for questioning in relation to the suspected human sacrifice killing of a boy in Britain, has been remanded in custody by the High Court.

Mr Akpojo Tor Koulibaly was arrested yesterday afternoon at a house in Alderwood Green, Tallaght, on foot of a warrant seeking his extradition to Germany.

Mr Kaulibaly was convicted in Germany in his absence, in March 2001, of forgery, claiming residence and trafficking-linked crimes. He had been living at a house in Tallaght for several months with a number of other people - some thought to be family members.

Mr Kaulibaly was remanded in custody to reappear in court next Tuesday. The German authorities have 18 days to lodge a formal extradition request.

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According to the arresting officer, Sergeant Martin O'Neill of the Garda Extradition Unit, Mr Kaulibaly's name appeared on the warrant along with 11 other names. Sgt O'Neill said when he presented the warrantt to Mr Kaulibaly, he conceded his name appeared on that list.

Under extradition law, Mr Kaulibaly must give his consent to be extradited, which Sgt O'Neill said he refused to do. He was then taken to Tallaght Garda Station, where he was formally arrested at 4.25 p.m.

Contrary to what Mr Justice White descried as "media speculation" this morning, Mr Kaulibaly was not questioned following his arrest.

Gardaí and New Scotland Yard confirmed yesterday that British detectives wanted to speak to Mr Kaulibaly in connection with the discovery of the torso of a male child in the River Thames, London, in September 2001.

The child was never identified but the torso is believed to have been that of a male aged between four and seven. He was given the name Adam.

A post-mortem revealed he died from a massive trauma to the neck and that he had been in the Thames for up to 10 days before his remains were discovered.

British police have requested Mr Kaulibaly's DNA to test against Adam, believing he could be the boy's natural father.

He is the estranged husband of Ms Joyce Osagiede, who was arrested in connection with the murder a year ago in Glasgow.

She was not charged and was later returned to Nigeria.