UK-Based Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Faces Deportation Following Fraud Allegations
Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian pastor residing in the UK, is facing imminent deportation after losing his legal battle against the Home Office. This decision comes in the wake of serious allegations involving a £1.87 million fraud that led to the closure of his church, SPAC Nation.
In his defense against deportation, Adegboyega claimed that his removal would violate his right to family life under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), accentuating his marriage to a British woman. He also argued that the Home Office neglected to acknowledge his contributions to community work through SPAC Nation.
According to reports from the UK Telegraph, an immigration tribunal has ruled that the Nigerian Pastor—who is related to ‘Star Wars’ star John Boyega—should be sent back to Nigeria after investigations revealed significant financial irregularities within his church. The tribunal highlighted that SPAC Nation was shut down because it failed to properly account for the substantial £1.87 million in outgoings and operated without adequate transparency.
The tribunal’s findings indicated, “Numerous arms of his church have been shut down by either the Charity Commission or the High Court due to financial concerns and a lack of transparency.” Furthermore, the tribunal noted allegations from former church members, who described the organization as a cult that pressured vulnerable young individuals into extreme financial sacrifices, including high-interest loans, benefit fraud, and even selling their own blood.
Adegboyega had claimed that his charitable work was recognized by high-profile politicians, including Boris Johnson and senior officials within the Metropolitan Police, although no formal evidence from these figures was presented to the court. He argued that without his leadership, ongoing community projects would either collapse or diminish significantly.
The tribunal, however, criticized his testimony, calling it exaggerated and lacking credibility. It stated, “We find it implausible that he has the capacity to personally handle all of the purported charitable work. We are not convinced that the positive initiatives undertaken by SPAC Nation would be jeopardized should Mr. Adegboyega be compelled to exit the UK.”
In weighing the circumstances, the tribunal concluded that the Home Office’s decision to deny him residency was justified, citing that Adegboyega’s family and private life ties had been made while he overstayed his visitor’s visa, which he used to enter the UK in 2005. The report stated, “The interference with his life would be limited, and lawful under the circumstances.”
The UK Telegraph further disclosed that Adegboyega has remained in the UK unlawfully since his visa expired. He initially sought to stay in 2019 under the ECHR family life provisions; however, his application was rejected by a first-tier immigration tribunal, prompting him to launch an appeal.
During the appeal, Adegboyega maintained that no criminal charges had been filed against him concerning his church’s financial dealings, alleging that many attacks against him and SPAC Nation were politically motivated and unfounded. However, the tribunal announced that the Charity Commission had identified serious misconduct and mismanagement within the church’s operations over an extended period of time.
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