Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, the senior pastor of SPAC Nation (Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church), has lost his legal battle against deportation from the UK. The 44-year-old, who overstayed his visitor’s visa in 2005 and has lived in the UK unlawfully since then, faces deportation to Nigeria following serious allegations of financial misconduct amounting to £1.87 million.
An immigration tribunal upheld the UK Home Office’s decision to deport Adegboyega, rejecting his argument that deportation would violate his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Adegboyega’s legal team had argued that his marriage to a British citizen and his community work, which they claimed positively impacted Black youth in London by steering them away from crime, were sufficient grounds to allow him to remain in the UK. They also pointed to praise he allegedly received from public figures, including Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials, although no evidence was presented in court to support these claims.
The tribunal, however, sided with the Home Office, which presented damning evidence of financial mismanagement, allegations of cult-like practices within SPAC Nation, and claims that vulnerable church members were pressured to make large financial contributions through dubious means. These included taking out loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their bl@od to meet financial demands.
SPAC Nation, which had previously been shut down due to concerns over financial irregularities and a lack of transparency, faced further scrutiny over the lavish lifestyles reportedly led by its leaders, including Adegboyega. Reports of abuse within the church community further undermined his claims of being an asset to the UK.
Adegboyega maintained that no criminal charges had been brought against him or his church and insisted the accusations were politically motivated. However, the tribunal concluded that the evidence against him outweighed his contributions, dismissing his appeal.
This is not Adegboyega’s first attempt to remain in the UK. In 2019, he applied for leave to remain on the grounds of family life, but his application was rejected, leading to the current legal proceedings.
The ruling marks the end of a controversial chapter in Adegboyega’s time in the UK, with the tribunal emphasizing the need to address serious concerns surrounding financial misconduct and alleged exploitation within SPAC Nation.
