A Nigerian pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, whose church was closed due to an alleged £1.87 million fraud has lost his legal battle against deportation, despite arguing it would violate his human rights.
An immigration tribunal ruled that Tobi Adegboyega, 44, a cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, should be deported to Nigeria.
Investigations, including by The Telegraph, revealed financial irregularities within SPAC Nation, the controversial church he led, which was shut down for failing to account for over £1.87 million in expenditures and for lacking transparency.
Mr. Adegboyega argued that deportation would infringe on his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), citing his marriage to a British woman.
He also claimed the Home Office overlooked his community work through SPAC, describing himself as a “charismatic” leader who positively influenced hundreds of young people, particularly from London’s Black communities, steering them away from crime.
His legal team highlighted endorsements of his work by politicians, including Boris Johnson, and senior Metropolitan Police figures, though no supporting testimony was presented in court.
Mr. Adegboyega also contended that his absence would jeopardize key community projects he initiated.
The Home Office, however, argued that “all is not as it seems,” leading the tribunal to reject his appeal.
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“Various manifestations of [Mr Adegboyega’s] church have been closed down, by either the Charity Commission or the High Court, because of concerns over its finances and lack of transparency,” according to the judgment.
“Former members of the church have alleged that it is a cult, in which impoverished young people are encouraged to do anything they can to donate money, including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud and even selling their own blood.
“It is alleged that the church leadership lead lavish lifestyles and there have, it is said, been instances of abuse. The [Home Office’s] case before us was that all of this needs to be taken into account when evaluating whether [Mr Adegboyega] is in fact of real value to the UK.”
Mr. Adegboyega has been living unlawfully in the UK since overstaying his visitor visa, which permitted him to enter Britain in 2005.
In 2019, he sought leave to remain, citing the European Convention on Human Rights’ (ECHR) provision for the right to a family life. His application was initially rejected by a first-tier immigration tribunal, prompting him to file an appeal.
During the appeal, Mr. Adegboyega argued that no criminal charges had ever been brought against anyone over his church’s finances.
He claimed that many accusations against him and SPAC Nation were politically driven and dismissed allegations of the organization being a cult as baseless.
However, the tribunal was presented with findings from the Charity Commission, which determined that “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity” had occurred over an extended period.
The tribunal also questioned the credibility of Mr. Adegboyega’s testimony, describing it as “hyperbolic in many instances” and suggesting that he had “sought to grossly inflate his influence.”
It further noted: “We find it implausible that he has the time to undertake all of this work personally.”
The tribunal 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.”
(The Telegraph)
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