Tobi Adegboyega, the Nigerian founder of SPAC Nation church in the UK, has refuted reports of a deportation order against him while addressing allegations of financial misconduct. Speaking in a BBC interview on Friday, Adegboyega clarified his immigration status and dismissed fraud claims as baseless.
The pastor, who arrived in the UK in 2005 on a visitor’s visa at age 25, admitted to overstaying unintentionally. He attributed the delay in regularizing his immigration status, which spanned nearly a decade, to losing track of time and assuming his family was managing the paperwork.
Recent controversies surrounding Adegboyega have been intensified by accusations linking him to a £1.87 million fraud involving the misuse of church funds. The pastor denied these allegations, attributing them to “disgruntled members” of SPAC Nation. “How on earth do you run an organization without disgruntled people?” he remarked.
Highlighting the church’s contributions to UK communities, Adegboyega pointed to efforts in combating street violence. “Our church has helped get hundreds of knives off the streets and tackled gun violence,” he noted.
Known for his luxury fashion, the charismatic preacher defended his lavish lifestyle, stating that it is a deliberate choice to appeal to younger generations. “I wear what connects to the generation I’m speaking to, so they are not attracted to drug dealers,” he explained.
Despite the ongoing legal battle over his immigration status, Adegboyega emphasized that no deportation order has been issued. “The matter is in the hands of the judges,” he said, expressing confidence in the outcome.
