Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Faces Deportation from the UK Over £1.87m Fraud Allegations

Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian cleric and founder of the controversial SPAC Nation church, has lost his bid to remain in the UK after an immigration tribunal upheld his deportation. Adegboyega, 44, who is a cousin of British actor John Boyega, had been fighting deportation on human rights grounds, claiming it would violate his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Adegboyega argued that his marriage to a British citizen and his work mentoring young people, particularly within Black communities in London, warranted his continued stay in the UK. His legal team presented him as a “charismatic” leader whose work had previously been lauded by prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior police officials. However, no official testimonies from these figures were provided.

The Home Office countered with evidence of financial misconduct within SPAC Nation, leading to its closure by the Charity Commission and High Court due to unaccounted funds exceeding £1.87 million. Allegations against the church included encouraging members to take out loans, commit benefit fraud, and even sell their blood to donate money, all while its leadership reportedly lived extravagantly.

The tribunal deemed Adegboyega’s testimony “hyperbolic” and found that his influence within SPAC Nation had been “grossly exaggerated.” It ruled that his family life and private relationships, established while he overstayed his visa, could continue in Nigeria without significant interference.

Adegboyega, who first entered the UK on a visitor visa in 2005 and later overstayed, applied for leave to remain in 2019 under the ECHR. Both his initial application and subsequent appeal were dismissed. The tribunal concluded that his deportation was lawful and would not unduly harm the church’s broader activities, bringing his legal battle to an end.

He now faces imminent deportation to Nigeria.