UK to deport Pastor Tobi Adegboyega over fraud allegations

Tobi Adegboyega, the former leader of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), has lost his appeal to stay in the United Kingdom.

A tribunal ruled that the 44-year-old pastor should be deported to Nigeria following concerns over financial mismanagement within his church.

Investigations uncovered £1.87 million in unaccounted funds, leading to the church’s closure.

SPAC Nation, led by Tobi Adegboyega, garnered attention for its work with young people, particularly in London’s Black communities. However, former members accused the church of exploiting vulnerable individuals, with allegations that leaders encouraged members to take out loans, commit fraud, and even sell blood to raise money. Despite Adegboyega’s claims that the church helped hundreds avoid trouble, a tribunal found evidence of financial mismanagement and misconduct spanning several years.

Adegboyega had overstayed his visitor’s visa since arriving in the UK in 2005. He argued that deportation would disrupt his family life, as he is married to a British citizen, and would undermine projects he claimed to have established to support young people. His legal team presented him as a community leader with praise from high-profile figures, though no evidence of such endorsements was provided. The tribunal also questioned the extent of his involvement in the programs.

The Home Office contended that SPAC Nation operated without transparency, leading to its closure by both the Charity Commission and the High Court. Investigations further dismissed claims of political and media bias against Adegboyega as baseless.

In its ruling, the tribunal rejected Adegboyega’s arguments, describing his claims as exaggerated. It concluded that his deportation would not cause SPAC Nation’s activities to collapse and that his family life, established during his unlawful stay, could continue in Nigeria. The decision marks the end of a prolonged legal battle and another chapter in the controversial history of SPAC Nation and its former leader.

Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.

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