Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian religious leader and cousin of actor John Boyega, has lost his legal battle to avoid deportation from the UK. Adegboyega, who has faced allegations of financial misconduct tied to his former church, SPAC Nation, was ruled against by an immigration tribunal, which upheld the Home Office's decision to deport him to Nigeria.
The tribunal cited accusations of fraud and mismanagement within SPAC Nation, including claims that vulnerable individuals were coerced into extreme measures to donate money. Despite Adegboyega's argument that deportation would violate his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the court found his assertions unconvincing. His claims of positive community impact and endorsements from prominent figures, such as Boris Johnson, were unsupported by evidence.
The tribunal determined that Adegboyega's influence and community projects in the UK were overstated and concluded that his deportation was lawful and proportionate. His application for leave to remain, which was based on his marriage to a British citizen and his charitable work, was dismissed. The decision marks the end of Adegboyega's nearly 20-year stay in the UK, which began in 2005 on a visitor visa that he overstayed.