Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian pastor, has lost his legal struggle against deportation from the UK due to claims of fraud and financial illegality at his renowned church, SPAC Nation.
Despite allegations that deportation would violate his human rights, an immigration panel established that he should be deported to Nigeria.
Adegboyega, 44, a cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, claimed that removing him from the UK would breach his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He mentioned his marriage to a British woman and his community service with SPAC Nation as reasons for staying in the UK.
His defence team described him as a “charismatic” leader, emphasising his efforts to teach hundreds of young people, mainly from London’s black neighbourhoods, to steer them away from criminal activity.
They claimed his work had been lauded by well-known personalities such as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials. Still, no testimony from these individuals was given.
However, the tribunal observed that the Home Office provided a different narrative. According to the award, “Various manifestations of [Mr Adegboyega’s] church have been closed down, by either the Charity Commission or the High Court, because of concerns over its finances and lack of transparency.”
SPAC Nation was shut down after failing to account for more than £1.87 million in expenses, and there were allegations that the church encouraged members to donate funds in extreme ways.
Former members accused the organisation of being a cult, stating that impoverished people were pressured to take out loans, conduct welfare fraud, and even sell their blood to support the church.
“It is alleged that the church leadership leads lavish lifestyles, and there have, it is said, been instances of abuse,” according to the verdict. “The [Home Office’s] case before us was that all of this needs to be taken into account when evaluating whether [Mr Adegboyega] is in fact of real value to the UK.”
Adegboyega, who had overstayed a tourist visa issued in 2005, asked for leave to remain in 2019 under the ECHR. His initial application was dismissed, and his second appeal was similarly denied. The panel deemed his evidence “hyperbolic in many instances” and concluded that he had “grossly inflated his influence.”
The panel concluded: “We are not satisfied that the good work that SPAC Nation undertakes generally would collapse or even significantly suffer should the appellant be required to leave the UK.”
It determined that Adegboyega’s family and private life relationships were formed while he was in the UK illegally and may continue even after he returned to Nigeria.
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“The interference would, therefore, be limited and lawful in all the circumstances,” claimed the court. This ruling ends Adegboyega’s legal campaign to stay in the UK, as he now risks deportation to Nigeria.
