UK To Deport Nigerian Pastor, Tobi Adegboyega Over Alleged £1.87 Million Fraud

The United Kingdom government is preparing to deport Nigerian pastor, Tobi Adegboyega after he lost his appeal against deportation at an immigration tribunal.

The UK authorities had previously shut down Tobi Adegboyega’s church, SPAC Nation, following investigations that revealed financial mismanagement by its leadership.

It was gathered that Adegboyega failed to account for over £1.87 million in expenditures, leading to accusations of a lack of transparency in the church’s operations.

According to Telegraph, the immigration tribunal upheld the decision to deport Adegboyega to Nigeria after reviewing the evidence against him.

The pastor had initially entered the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but has remained in the country unlawfully since then.

In 2019, Adegboyega sought leave to remain under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), citing his right to a family life.

His initial application was rejected, but he appealed, arguing that deportation would violate his rights and undermine his work within the community.

Adegboyega, who is married to a British citizen, claimed to have made significant contributions to youth development through SPAC Nation, particularly in London’s Black community.

His legal team described him as a “charismatic leader” whose church had positively impacted hundreds of young people by steering them away from crime.

They also claimed that prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials, had praised his efforts, although no formal testimony from them was presented in court.

The Home Office, however, argued that Adegboyega’s public image was misleading and submitted evidence against him to the tribunal.

According to the tribunal’s findings, SPAC Nation had faced multiple closures due to concerns raised by the Charity Commission and the High Court over financial irregularities and lack of accountability.

Former church members alleged that SPAC Nation operated like a cult, pressuring vulnerable young people into extreme measures to donate money, such as taking out loans, committing benefit fraud, or selling their blood.

They also accused the church leadership of living extravagant lifestyles and engaging in abusive behavior.

Pastor Tobi Adegboyega denied these allegations during the hearing, labeling them as politically motivated attacks.

He argued that no criminal charges had ever been filed against him or his church over its finances and insisted that his deportation would violate his human rights.

However, the tribunal ruled against him, citing findings by the Charity Commission that highlighted “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement” in SPAC Nation’s administration over an extended period.

The judgment also noted that Adegboyega’s testimony often exaggerated his role and influence, concluding that the church’s community work would not collapse if he left the UK.

The tribunal ruled that Adegboyega’s family and private life relationships, established while he was unlawfully in the UK, could continue despite his return to Nigeria.

The tribunal also found Adegboyega’s evidence to be “hyperbolic in many instances’ and had ‘sought to grossly inflate his influence.”

The tribunal 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.

“Weighing all of the foregoing in the balance we conclude that the decision to refuse leave to remain was wholly proportionate.

“Mr Adegboyega seeks to rely on family and private life relationships, all of which have been established whilst he was in the UK unlawfully, and which would survive his return to Nigeria.

“The interference would therefore be limited, and lawful in all the circumstances.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Pastor Dapo Adegboyega SPAC) Nation, was also accused of defrauding a church member identified as Racheal Daniel of £110,000 (N103 million) in London.