Olayiwola Matthew
Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, the senior pastor of SPAC Nation (Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church), has lost his legal battle against deportation from the UK following allegations of financial misconduct amounting to £1.87 million.
An immigration tribunal ruled that 44-year-old Adegboyega, who has been living in the UK unlawfully since overstaying his visitor’s visa in 2005, should be deported to Nigeria. His church was previously shut down due to concerns over financial irregularities and lack of transparency.
Adegboyega argued that deportation would violate his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), citing his marriage to a British citizen and his community work. His legal team described him as a charismatic leader who had positively impacted hundreds of young people, particularly from Black communities in London, by steering them away from crime.
They also claimed his work had been praised by politicians like Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials, though no supporting evidence from these figures was provided in court.
However, the tribunal found the Home Office’s arguments compelling, with officials presenting evidence of financial mismanagement, allegations of cult-like practices within the church, and claims that vulnerable members were pressured to donate large sums through loans, benefit fraud, and even selling their blood.
The tribunal also highlighted allegations of lavish lifestyles led by the church’s leadership and reports of abuse, concluding that these concerns undermined Adegboyega’s claims of significant value to the UK.
Despite Adegboyega’s assertions that no criminal charges had been brought against him or the church and that accusations were politically motivated, the tribunal upheld the decision to deport him. Adegboyega had previously applied for leave to remain in 2019 on the basis of his family life, but his application was rejected, leading to the current appeal.