UK Court Rejects Nigerian Pastor Adegboyega’s Deportation Appeal

A UK court has dismissed Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega’s appeal against his deportation, citing concerns over financial misconduct within his now-defunct church, SPAC Nation, and his prolonged stay in the country without proper legal status.

Adegboyega, 44, who founded SPAC Nation, faced allegations of mismanaging over £1.87 million in church funds. Investigations revealed serious financial mismanagement and fraudulent activities, including claims that the church coerced vulnerable young people into taking out loans and engaging in illegal activities to fund the church’s operations.

Despite the church’s controversial reputation and the Charity Commission’s findings of “serious misconduct,” Adegboyega maintained that his work helped at-risk youth in London.

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The pastor, married to a British citizen, had argued that deportation would violate his human rights, particularly his right to family life.

He claimed that his work with vulnerable communities would be severely impacted by his absence. His legal team painted him as a charismatic community leader, lauding his efforts in guiding young people away from trouble.

However, the court rejected these claims, emphasizing that Adegboyega had overstayed his visitor’s visa for nearly two decades and failed to provide sufficient evidence that his contributions to the community were as significant as claimed.

The tribunal concluded that his family life did not outweigh the need for deportation, citing his unlawful stay and the questionable nature of his church’s activities.

The court ruled that the refusal to allow Adegboyega to remain in the UK was “wholly proportionate,” noting that his presence had not provided any irreplaceable contributions to the community.