UK to Deport Popular Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Over Alleged Fraud

The UK government had earlier closed SPAC Nation following investigations that uncovered financial mismanagement. Adegboyega was unable to account for over £1.87 million in expenditures, and the organization operated with considerable lack of transparency.

After the church was closed, Adegboyega, who initially came to the UK in 2005 on a visitor’s visa, has been residing in the country without legal authorization.

In 2019, he submitted an application for leave to remain, invoking his right to a family life under the European Convention of Human Rights since he was married to a British woman. However, the first-tier immigration tribunal initially rejected his application.

Despite an appeal, the tribunal decided that Adegboyega would be deported. They cited his legal team’s inability to demonstrate that this action would infringe upon his human rights or adequately consider his contributions to community work through the church.

His legal team portrayed him as a charismatic community leader of a large, well-organized church who had made significant interventions in the lives of hundreds of young people, primarily from London’s Black communities, guiding them away from trouble.

He claimed that politicians, such as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police, had praised his work. However, no testimony from them was presented in court.

Nevertheless, the Home Office argued that “all is not as it seems” and brought him before an immigration tribunal.

However, as quoted by The Telegraph, the tribunal stated that it took into account the evidence against the Nigerian pastor.

The judgment states, “Several branches of Mr. Adegboyega’s church have been shut down by either the Charity Commission or the High Court due to concerns regarding its financial practices and lack of transparency.”

Former members of the church have claimed that it operates as a cult, where financially disadvantaged young individuals are reportedly urged to do whatever they can to contribute money. This includes taking out significant loans, engaging in benefit fraud, and even selling their own blood.

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There are claims that the church leaders lead extravagant lifestyles and, allegedly, there have been cases of abuse. The Home Office argues that all these factors should be considered when assessing whether Mr. Adegboyega truly contributes to the UK.

During his speech at the tribunal, Adegboyega stated that allegations of his church being a cult were baseless and asserted that attacks on him and the church stemmed from political motivations.

He also argued that no one had ever faced criminal charges regarding his church’s finances and added that deporting him would violate his human rights.

However, the tribunal was informed that the Charity Commission determined there had been significant misconduct and/or mismanagement in administering the charity over an extended period.

The tribunal determined that Adegboyega’s evidence was often exaggerated and attempted to significantly overstate his influence.

The tribunal determined that they were not convinced the valuable work SPAC Nation conducts would collapse or be significantly affected if the appellant had to leave the UK.

After considering all the preceding factors, we conclude that the decision to refuse leave to remain was entirely proportionate.

Mr. Adegboyega wishes to depend on family and private life connections that he formed while living unlawfully in the UK, but these relationships would continue even if he returned to Nigeria.

Thus, the interference would be constrained and legally justified under all situations.