The United Kingdom immigration upper tribunal has stated why Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), will face deportation.
The 44-year-old pastor, who arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but overstayed when his visa expired, had sought to remain in the country on human rights grounds, citing his marriage to a British citizen. However, the Home Office denied his request, leading him to appeal to the first-tier tribunal, which also rejected his application.
Following this, Adegboyega appealed to the upper tribunal on August 15, 2022. During the proceedings, his lawyer, Dele Olawanle, argued that the pastor’s church had initiated various intervention programs aimed at rescuing troubled youth in the UK from gangster and crime.
He claimed Adegboyega had been instrumental in setting up a food bank providing 136,000 meals to children and establishing a network of safe houses in London for young people seeking to avoid gang conflicts.
These initiatives, the pastor argued, had been supported by prominent figures in the UK, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police.
However, PUNCH reports that the upper tribunal, presided over by Judges Bruce and Rastogi, rejected Adegboyega’s claims and insisted that he must return to Nigeria.
The court cited his unlawful stay in the UK and described his claims as exaggerated and unsupported by evidence. The tribunal stated that Adegboyega had “grossly inflated” his contributions to the community, calling his assertions “hyperbolic.”
It further noted the absence of corroborative evidence from institutions such as the Metropolitan Police, Downing Street, the Mayor of London, or the Home Office to support his claims of widespread endorsement for his work.
The judges were particularly skeptical of his claims that his presence in London was necessary to “calm the nerves of people from ethnic minorities” and to combat crime, labeling these assertions as unsubstantiated. In their judgment, the court emphasized that Adegboyega’s work could continue without his physical presence in the UK.
Adegboyega also faced questions regarding his personal lifestyle. He claimed that he had never taken a penny from the church, stating that his wife, Mary, provides full financial support.
He also defended his extravagant lifestyle, including designer clothing and luxury cars, explaining that these were also funded by his wife, adding that the lifestyle was to inspire the young people he was working to help. He contended that by displaying a successful and legitimate entrepreneurial lifestyle, he could guide others to financial success.
However, the pastor has been at the centre of ongoing controversy, particularly regarding alleged financial misconduct and a lavish lifestyle that critics claimed have been financed by church donations.
A BBC documentary revealed allegations from former church members who accused Adegboyega of misappropriating funds meant for community programs and instead using them to support his opulent lifestyle. Despite these claims, the pastor has never faced any criminal charges or convictions.
In response to the ruling, Adegboyega dismissed the allegations and expressed confidence in his future. On Instagram, he responded, “I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm.
“Naturally, I will dismiss things that have to do with retrogression; every Nigerian should be proud of me. Living in the UK, a city that is well known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts, so the matter that they are propagating is the smallest matter.
“No panic, I love London city, it is my city and nobody can do anything. Of all the people of colour you know here – pastors and leaders, I have survived everything.
“I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me. I succeeded well in this country despite all challenges and I’m in the league of people you look up to. I have survived that well, nothing has changed, nothing will change. I’m here, number one in London City and nothing is going to bring us down.”
