Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega’s Legal Woes Unfold After Immigration Tribunal Deportation Ruling
British authorities have ordered the deportation of Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian-born pastor, after a recent immigration tribunal decision. The 44-year-old is the cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega and had been facing allegations of financial misconduct linked to his London-based church, SPAC Nation.
Inspectors investigating the church found evidence of financial irregularities, leading to a ruling that Adegboyega must leave the country. Despite his appeal, which cited family ties under the European Convention on Human Rights, the tribunal upheld the deportation order.
18 Key Facts About Pastor Tobi Adegboyega
1. Date of Birth: Born on November 11, 1980.
2. Nationality: A Nigerian pastor with Yoruba roots.
3. Church Leadership: Founded the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), later rebranded as NXTION Family, in London.
4. Move to the UK: Moved from Lagos, Nigeria to London in 2005.
5. Early Life in London: Initially shared a room with his cousin, actor John Boyega, and worked as a kitchen porter.
6. Church Beginnings: SPAC Nation started in 2008 with just three members in Croydon, South London.
7. Unique Practices: Encouraged individuals, including former criminals, to surrender weapons during church services, a controversial initiative.
8. Leadership Transition: Stepped down as Lead Pastor in May 2020 and handed leadership to Samuel Akokhia.
9. Church Closure: The UK government ordered SPAC Nation to close in June 2022 due to financial irregularities and lack of transparency.
10. Media Scrutiny: A BBC Panorama investigation accused Adegboyega and church leaders of financially exploiting members and revealed his extravagant financial demands.
11. Allegations of Misconduct: A church member alleged Adegboyega requested £20,000 from him, claiming it was needed for an investment. The church denied the accusations, but Adegboyega refused to grant an interview to Panorama.
12. Controversial Statements: Panorama published a video of Adegboyega, quoted as saying it was “no big deal for members of the church to give at least £1,000 a month to the church”, and that he needed to make £1 million monthly.
13. Parliamentary Accusations: In January 2020, MP Steve Reed accused SPAC Nation of financial exploitation and fraud, but the police declined to launch a criminal investigation.
14. Youth Exploitation Claims: The church faced allegations of pressuring young people to sell their blood for money in 2019.
15. Domestic and Sexual Abuse Claims: SPAC Nation was also accused of abuse and other forms of misconduct.
16. Lavish Lifestyle: Adegboyega resides in a £2.5 million mansion in Surrey, reflecting a life of luxury.
17. Marriage: In a 2020 interview, he revealed he had been married to a British woman for eight years, a factor he cited in his deportation appeal.
18. Legacy: While his church attracted followers and controversy, Adegboyega’s practices and leadership remain under scrutiny.
