REUBEN ABATI
Pastor Tobi Adegboyega’s lawyer has refuted reports that the Nigerian-UK-based pastor is facing deportation from the United Kingdom, describing the claims as “ignorant” and emphasizing that his client is not a criminal.
The Telegraph had earlier reported that Adegboyega lost his appeal against deportation following allegations of financial misconduct within his church after failing to properly account for over £1.87 million in financial outgoings.
SPAC Nation, a now-defunct church founded by Adegboyega, was shut down after the Charity Commission found “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement” in its financial dealings.
Allegations from former members described the church as a “cult” that exploited young and vulnerable individuals, coercing them into taking loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their blood to make donations.
The UK tribunal, in its ruling during the trial, however, concluded:
“We are not satisfied that the good work that SPAC Nation undertakes generally would collapse or even significantly suffer should the Appellant be required to leave the UK.
“Weighing all of the foregoing in the balance, we conclude that the decision to refuse leave to remain was wholly proportionate.
“[Mr Adegboyega] seeks to rely on family and private life relationships, all of which have been established whilst he was in the UK unlawfully and which would survive his return to Nigeria.
“The interference would therefore be limited and lawful in all the circumstances.”
However, Adegboyega’s lawyer, Dele Olawanle, in a post on Instagram on Wednesday, described the deportation claims as “ignorant,” “false,” and “sensationalist.”
Olawanle said Adegboyega is not subject to deportation proceedings, noting, “He (Adegboyega) is not facing deportation from the UK… Deportation is for criminals. He is not.”
Olawanle also noted that despite challenges faced by SPAC Nation—including concerns raised by the Charity Commission regarding financial mismanagement—Adegboyega himself had never been personally found guilty of any wrongdoing.
“Even though the courts and the Charity Commission had issues with SPAC Nation, he was not personally found guilty of any wrongdoing,” Olawanle said.
