‘Miracle’ pastor appeal refused
A controversial pastor who claimed he could give infertile couples “miracle babies” is a step closer to extradition on child abduction charges.
Two High Court judges have refused to give Gilbert Deya permission to appeal to the House of Lords against the order to extradite him to Kenya.
Gilbert DeyaThe radio broadcast that started the investigation: Archbishop’s ‘Miracle Babies’ Raise Child Trafficking FearsIn Kenya: Gilbert Deya’s wife jailed over miracle babiesAdditional articles about Gilbert and Mary DeyaResearch resources on Gilbert DeyaComments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.comMr Deya, the self-proclaimed bishop of a church in Peckham, South London, says he faces torture in his native Kenya.
The Kenyan government alleges he stole five children between 1999 and 2004.
Deya’s lawyers argued his case should be certified as one raising issues of general public importance that should be considered by the Law Lords, but this was rejected by Lord Justice Dyson.
Mr Deya has no more avenues of appeal in the UK and his lawyers are considering a last-ditch application to the European Court of Human Rights.
[…]Police in Nairobi say their investigation revolves around the disappearance of babies from Nairobi’s Pumwani Maternity Hospital and involves suspects in Britain, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya.
In fighting extradition, Mr Deya has argued that he is the victim of a political vendetta in Kenya and said his human rights would be compromised by the poor conditions in a Kenyan prison.
The High Court rejected his fears of ill treatment and accepted the Kenyan government’s assurance that the country’s new coalition government was committed to improving jail conditions.
[…]
Is Deya finally on his way back to Kenya?
The Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko yesterday said he was working closely with the UK prosecution services to ensure justice is done.
“The court has given permission to extradite him and we are ready for him,” Tobiko told The Standard.
A Kenyan warrant of arrest against Deya over his claims he helps barren women conceive miraculously, is still in force. Police have been investigating an alleged child trafficking and smuggling racket between Kenya and Britain.
Deya faces several charges in a case involving the ‘Miracle Babies’ saga. In some cases he is charged along with his wife Mary, who completed her sentence at the Lang’ata Women’s Prison, a few weeks ago.
His wife’s advocate Cliff Ombetta said if the UK court has decided it is necessary to extradite Deya, then Kenya should speed up the case once he arrives.