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LONDON — Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian pastor and cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, has lost his legal battle to remain in the UK after an immigration tribunal ordered his deportation.
Mr. Adegboyega, 44, who founded the controversial SPAC Nation church, faced allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud. The church, which was shut down following investigations, failed to account for over £1.87 million in spending, according to reports.
The pastor argued that deportation would violate his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), citing his marriage to a British woman and his community work. His legal team described him as a “charismatic” leader who had positively influenced hundreds of young people in London.
“SPAC Nation has made a real impact in the community, steering many young people away from trouble,” his lawyers said during the hearing.
However, the tribunal was not convinced, noting that “various manifestations of [Mr. Adegboyega’s] church have been closed down due to concerns over finances and transparency.”
The tribunal also considered allegations from former church members, who described SPAC Nation as a “cult” that exploited impoverished young people, encouraging them to take loans, commit benefit fraud, or even sell blood to make donations.
“Leadership lived lavish lifestyles, and there were instances of abuse,” the tribunal’s findings stated.
Despite Mr. Adegboyega’s insistence that the allegations were politically motivated and that no criminal charges had been filed against him, the Charity Commission concluded there was significant mismanagement within the church.
The tribunal dismissed Mr. Adegboyega’s appeal, stating that his claims were “exaggerated” and his influence “grossly inflated.”
“We are not satisfied that SPAC Nation’s good work would collapse or significantly suffer if Mr. Adegboyega were deported,” the ruling read.
The court also noted that his family and private relationships, established while he was living unlawfully in the UK since 2005, would survive his return to Nigeria.
The Home Office welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of holding individuals accountable for violating immigration laws.
