UK to Deport Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Over £1.87m Fraud Allegations
Tobi Adegboyega, the Nigerian pastor at the center of a £1.87 million financial misconduct scandal, has lost his legal battle to remain in the United Kingdom. A UK immigration tribunal ruled against his appeal, paving the way for his deportation despite his claims that returning to Nigeria would violate his human rights.
Adegboyega, 44, a cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, was the leader of SPAC Nation, a controversial church accused of financial mismanagement. Investigations by the Charity Commission and the High Court found the church failed to account for £1.87 million in outgoings and operated with a lack of transparency. SPAC Nation has since been shut down.
Allegations against the church include pressuring impoverished young members to take extreme measures to donate money, such as taking out loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their blood. Critics have also accused the church leadership of living lavish lifestyles funded by these contributions.
Adegboyega argued that deportation would breach his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, citing his family life with a British wife and his contributions to community work in London. He claimed that his efforts with SPAC Nation had helped hundreds of young people, primarily from Black communities, avoid trouble and build better lives.
The tribunal dismissed these claims, finding no evidence that his absence would harm the church’s operations or that his influence was as extensive as he described. It also highlighted that his family and private life were established while he was in the UK unlawfully, having overstayed his visa since 2005.
Adegboyega’s defense emphasized support he allegedly received from high-profile figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials. However, the tribunal noted that no such testimony was provided during the proceedings.
The Home Office argued that the allegations of financial misconduct, coupled with the closure of his church for lack of accountability, undermined Adegboyega’s claim to be a valuable member of UK society.
The tribunal ruled that deportation was proportionate, stating that any disruption to his family life or community projects could be mitigated and would not outweigh the necessity of enforcing immigration rules.
The case has drawn significant attention, reigniting discussions about financial exploitation within religious organizations and the UK’s immigration enforcement. Adegboyega is expected to be deported to Nigeria, although the Home Office has not yet confirmed a timeline.
