A Nigerian pastor whose church was shut down due to an alleged £1.87 million fraud has lost his legal battle against deportation, despite claiming it would violate his human rights.
Tobi Adegboyega, 44, the cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, has been ordered to return to Nigeria after an immigration tribunal ruled in favor of the Home Office. Adegboyega was the head of SPAC Nation, a controversial church that was shut down following investigations into its financial practices, including failing to properly account for large sums of money and operating with a lack of transparency.
In his appeal, Adegboyega argued that deportation would infringe on his right to family life under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), as he is married to a British woman. His legal team also contended that his community work with SPAC Nation, which supports young people, particularly from London’s black communities, should be considered in the decision. They claimed he had played a pivotal role in helping hundreds of young people stay away from trouble, with some politicians and senior police figures allegedly praising his efforts.
However, the tribunal was told that the Home Office had concerns about the true nature of Adegboyega’s work and the activities of SPAC Nation. The tribunal’s judgment referred to the closure of several branches of the church due to financial mismanagement and allegations of abuse. Former members of the church claimed it operated as a cult, pressuring vulnerable individuals to donate money by taking out loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their own blood. The tribunal also noted that the church’s leadership had been accused of living lavish lifestyles funded by questionable practices.
The tribunal acknowledged Adegboyega’s community work but concluded that his claims of personal influence were exaggerated. It found that the good work done by SPAC Nation would not be severely impacted by his removal, and that his family and private life ties had been established while he was in the UK unlawfully, as he had overstayed a visitor’s visa since 2005.
In its ruling, the tribunal deemed the decision to refuse Adegboyega’s application for leave to remain as “proportionate” and lawful, stating that his departure would not cause significant disruption to his family life or community contributions.
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