Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, the founder of the church SPAC Nation, faces imminent deportation from the UK after a tribunal ruled against his appeal to remain in the country. The decision follows a lengthy legal battle and a series of investigations into the church’s operations, which led authorities to question Adegboyega’s financial practices and his immigration status.
Adegboyega, who arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005, has lived in the country unlawfully for nearly two decades. In 2019, he applied to remain based on his right to a family life under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), citing his marriage to a British woman and his significant community work. His legal team presented him as a “charismatic” leader who had positively impacted the lives of many young people, particularly from London’s Black communities. They emphasized his efforts to steer individuals away from crime and provide them with opportunities through the church.
However, the Home Office countered these claims, presenting a different narrative. Investigations revealed that SPAC Nation, under Adegboyega’s leadership, had been embroiled in serious financial misconduct. The Charity Commission found evidence of sustained mismanagement within the church, including allegations of exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain. Some former members described the church as a “cult,” accusing its leadership of encouraging desperate followers to take extreme measures, such as committing benefit fraud or selling their blood to donate money.
Further complicating Adegboyega’s case was the closure of several SPAC Nation branches, which were shuttered due to concerns over transparency and financial misconduct. Despite his claims of political motivations behind the accusations, the tribunal found that the pastor's evidence was often exaggerated, failing to sway the court in his favor.
The tribunal ruled that Adegboyega’s continued presence in the UK could no longer be justified. The judgment noted that although his community contributions were acknowledged, they were not enough to outweigh the serious allegations against him. “The good work that SPAC Nation undertakes generally would survive his return to Nigeria,” the tribunal concluded, emphasizing that his deportation would not have a lasting negative impact on the church or the people he served.
With his appeal dismissed, Adegboyega faces the prospect of returning to Nigeria, where his legal team argues his deportation would breach his human rights. However, the tribunal held that his ties to the UK were established unlawfully and that the interference in his family life was proportionate given the circumstances.
