New details have shed light on why the UK Immigration Upper Tribunal approved the deportation of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, popularly known as SPAC Nation.
Adegboyega, 44, arrived in the UK on a visitor visa in 2005 and remained after it expired. Seeking to stay on human rights grounds, he married a British citizen but had his request denied by the Home Office. Appeals to both the first-tier and upper tribunals were also unsuccessful, with the latter delivering its verdict on August 15, 2022.
Represented by his lawyer, Dele Olawanle, Adegboyega argued that his church’s initiatives had supported UK youth, claiming endorsements from prominent figures such as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Metropolitan Police. He highlighted his role in creating intervention programmes, safe houses, and a food bank providing 136,000 meals to children. However, the tribunal found these claims “grossly inflated” and unsupported by evidence, noting the absence of corroborative documents from the institutions he cited.
Judges Bruce and Rastogi ruled that Adegboyega’s community work could continue without his physical presence in the UK. They also dismissed his marriage to a British citizen as insufficient to offset his immigration violations.
Adegboyega told the tribunal he was entirely financially supported by his wife, Mary, who earns £100,000 annually, and claimed his extravagant lifestyle was funded solely by her. Known for his designer attire and luxury cars, he defended this image as necessary to inspire young people to seek legitimate means of success.
The pastor has faced controversies, including allegations of financial misconduct detailed in a BBC documentary. It claimed SPAC Nation members were misled into making financial sacrifices under the guise of community projects, with funds allegedly supporting Adegboyega’s lavish lifestyle. Despite this, no criminal charges were brought against him.
Adegboyega’s response to the tribunal ruling on Instagram dismissed the allegations, asserting his resilience in the face of challenges. “Living in the UK, a city known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts,” he said. He also claimed his companies had raised over £1m within 24 hours of the ruling.
Adegboyega still has the option to appeal to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales but must file his case within 28 days of receiving permission from the upper tribunal.
