UK judges have approved the deportation of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, the founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), after a long legal battle over his immigration status. The 44-year-old Nigerian-born pastor, who entered the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 and overstayed, had appealed to remain in the country on human rights grounds, citing his marriage to a British citizen.
Adegboyega’s initial request to stay was denied by the Home Office, and his subsequent appeal to the first-tier tribunal also failed. On August 15, 2022, he appealed to the UK’s Upper Tribunal, arguing that his deportation would disrupt his community work, particularly programs targeting youth at risk of gang involvement.
Through his lawyer, Adegboyega claimed he had established numerous initiatives, including a food bank that provided 136,000 meals to children, and created safe houses for young people in London. He also mentioned his recognition from public figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior members of the Metropolitan Police.
However, the Upper Tribunal rejected Adegboyega’s appeal, ruling that his claims about his community contributions were exaggerated and lacked credible evidence.
The judges, Bruce and Rastogi, stated that there was no substantial proof from key institutions, such as the Metropolitan Police or Downing Street, to support Adegboyega’s assertions.
They criticized the pastor for inflating his role in various initiatives and dismissed the importance of his marriage to a British citizen, emphasizing his unlawful stay in the UK as a critical factor in their decision.
The tribunal also questioned Adegboyega’s lifestyle, highlighting his claims of living modestly while his wife, Mary Olubukola Alade, earned £100,000 annually.
Despite his claims of being supported solely by his wife and making sacrifices to help others, Adegboyega’s extravagant lifestyle, including designer clothing and luxury cars, had been a subject of public scrutiny.
Pastor Adegboyega, often at the center of controversy, was previously accused of financial misconduct in a BBC documentary, which alleged that he misused funds intended for community programs to support his lavish lifestyle.
While no criminal charges were filed, the UK Charity Commission and High Court’s investigations into financial improprieties led to the closure of SPAC Nation in 2022.
Despite the tribunal’s ruling, Adegboyega has vowed to continue his work and dismissed the allegations against him. On Instagram, he expressed defiance, asserting that no amount of persecution would stop him. “I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me. I have survived everything, and nothing is going to bring us down,” he said.
Source: punchng
