Tobi Adegboyega, the former leader of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church popularly known as SPAC Nation, has lost his appeal to remain in the United Kingdom.
A tribunal ruled that the 44-year-old pastor should be deported to Nigeria due to concerns about financial mismanagement linked to his church, which was shut down after investigations revealed £1.87 million in unaccounted funds.
SPAC Nation gained attention for its work with young people, particularly in London’s Black communities, but former members accused it of exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Allegations included that church leaders encouraged members to take loans, commit fraud, and even sell their blood to donate money.
Despite Adegboyega’s insistence that his church helped hundreds avoid trouble, the tribunal found evidence of misconduct and mismanagement over several years.
Adegboyega overstayed his visitor’s visa after arriving in the UK in 2005.
He argued that deportation would disrupt his family life, as he is married to a British citizen, and undermine the projects he claims to have established to support young people.
His legal team portrayed him as a community leader whose initiatives had received praise from high-profile figures.
However, no evidence of these endorsements was submitted, and the tribunal questioned the extent of his involvement in these programs.
The Home Office argued that SPAC Nation operated without transparency, leading to its closure by both the Charity Commission and the High Court.
Investigators also found that claims of political and media bias against Adegboyega were unfounded.
The tribunal described Adegboyega’s claims as exaggerated, stating that his departure would not lead to the collapse of SPAC Nation’s activities.
It concluded that deportation was fair and lawful, as Adegboyega’s family and private life relationships were established while he was in the UK unlawfully and could continue after his return to Nigeria.
This ruling brings an end to a long-running legal battle, marking another chapter in the controversial history of SPAC Nation and its former leader.
