Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian pastor and cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, has lost his legal battle to remain in the United Kingdom after an immigration tribunal upheld a deportation order against him.
Adegboyega, 44, formerly led SPAC Nation, a controversial church shut down after failing to account for over £1.87 million in outgoings and operating with financial irregularities.
He had argued that deportation would breach his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), citing his marriage to a British woman and his work in community development.
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Describing himself as a “charismatic” leader who had transformed the lives of many young people in London, Adegboyega claimed his work had been praised by politicians and police officials, although the tribunal noted that no testimony from such figures was presented in court.
The Home Office argued against his claims, highlighting allegations of misconduct within SPAC Nation. “Various manifestations of the church have been shut down due to concerns over its finances and lack of transparency,” the tribunal’s judgment stated.
The court heard that former members of SPAC Nation accused it of being a cult, alleging that vulnerable young people were pressured to secure funds through extreme measures, including taking loans, committing fraud, and selling their blood. Additionally, the church’s leadership was accused of living extravagant lifestyles.
Adegboyega’s legal team argued that he had never faced criminal charges regarding the church’s finances and dismissed accusations of the church being a cult as politically motivated. However, the tribunal found the Charity Commission’s findings of “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement” credible.
The tribunal also rejected Adegboyega’s claims of significant influence and community impact, describing his testimony as “hyperbolic” and stating that his projects would not collapse in his absence.
“Weighing all of the foregoing in the balance, we conclude that the decision to refuse leave to remain was wholly proportionate,” the tribunal ruled.
Adegboyega entered the UK in 2005 on a visitor’s visa and has since overstayed unlawfully. The tribunal determined that his family and private relationships, formed while in the UK illegally, would survive his return to Nigeria, making the deportation lawful and justified.
Adegboyega’s deportation case has drawn attention due to the controversies surrounding his church and his claims of contributing to the UK community.
