Controversial Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega is set to be deported from the United Kingdom after losing his case before an immigration tribunal. The founder of SPAC Nation, a now-defunct church, has been at the center of multiple controversies, including allegations of financial misconduct and cult-like practices.
According to The Telegraph, UK authorities decided to deport Adegboyega after an investigation revealed that he failed to account for over £1.87 million in church funds. The Charity Commission and the High Court had previously shut down various branches of SPAC Nation due to concerns over its finances and lack of transparency.
The tribunal’s judgment highlighted allegations that SPAC Nation exploited vulnerable young people. It stated:
“Former members of the church have alleged that it is a cult, in which impoverished young people are encouraged to do anything they can to donate money, including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their own blood.”
The judgment also criticized the lavish lifestyles of the church’s leadership and noted that the allegations of abuse raised serious concerns. The Home Office argued that these factors diminished Adegboyega’s contributions to the UK.
Adegboyega, who arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005, has lived unlawfully in the country since then. In 2019, he applied for leave to remain under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), citing his right to a family life due to his marriage to a British woman and his community work.
However, the Home Office contested his claims, asserting that “all is not as it seems.” The tribunal dismissed his appeal, concluding that the pastor’s presence was not of “real value to the UK.”
Speaking at the tribunal, Adegboyega denied accusations that SPAC Nation was a cult and claimed the allegations were politically motivated. He argued that attacks on him and his church were baseless.
Despite his defense, the tribunal upheld the Home Office’s decision, paving the way for his deportation to Nigeria.
