Tobi Adegboyega loses appeal against UK deportation over fraud allegations linked to SPAC Nation, ending a controversial chapter

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]obi Adegboyega, a Nigerian pastor and cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, has lost his appeal against deportation from the United Kingdom.

Also read: ‘SPAC Nation spanked!’ Pastor Adegboyega church slammed shut by UK govt over fraud allegations

The 44-year-old pastor, embroiled in a £1.87 million fraud investigation linked to his controversial church, SPAC Nation, was ordered to return to Nigeria after an immigration tribunal dismissed his claims of human rights violations.

Adegboyega argued that his deportation would breach his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

His defence cited his marriage to a British citizen, his community contributions, and his leadership, which allegedly steered hundreds of London’s youth, particularly within the Black community, away from crime.

Despite these assertions, the tribunal found no substantial evidence supporting his claims, including endorsements he attributed to notable figures like former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior police officers.

The Home Office presented a damning account of SPAC Nation’s operations.

The church, previously shut down by the Charity Commission and the High Court, faced allegations of financial misconduct and exploitation.

Former members accused the organization of pressuring vulnerable individuals into donating through extreme means, including taking out loans, committing benefit fraud, and selling blood.

Church leaders were also criticised for living extravagantly while allegedly misusing church funds.

Adegboyega, who entered the UK in 2005 on a visitor visa and overstayed, applied for leave to remain in 2019 under the ECHR.

As of 2007, Tobi Adegboyega worked as a receptionist at ASHOSH Plaza, a property in Peckham owned by Segun Oshin.

During this period, he reportedly served as a messenger for some prominent Nigerians who had offices in the plaza, running errands such as purchasing food and drinks.

Coming from a religious family, Adegboyega’s faith is described as deeply ingrained.

The challenges of living without proper documentation in the UK are said to have further strengthened his connection to God.

Sources suggest that his cousin, actor John Boyega, played a significant role in helping him enter the property market at a remarkably high level, paving the way for his eventual rise.

While denying accusations against him, he portrayed his journey as one marked by resilience, attributing his closeness to God to the struggles of living undocumented.

His family’s religious background and support from his cousin, John Boyega, allegedly helped him rise in the property market before founding SPAC Nation.

The tribunal, however, rejected Adegboyega’s appeal, describing his claims as exaggerated and finding no credible evidence that SPAC Nation’s work would collapse in his absence.

The ruling emphasised that the family and private life he had built in the UK while living unlawfully could continue in Nigeria.

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The decision upheld the Home Office’s stance, deeming his deportation “proportionate” and lawful. Adegboyega now faces a return to Nigeria, leaving behind a controversial legacy in the UK.