Tobi Adegboyega, a Nigerian pastor and cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, has been ordered deported from the UK following allegations of fraud involving £1.87 million. A UK immigration tribunal ruled against Adegboyega, 44, after investigations revealed financial misconduct linked to his church, SPAC Nation.
SPAC Nation, known for targeting young people in disadvantaged communities, was shut down over concerns of financial impropriety and a lack of transparency. Reports from the Charity Commission revealed serious misconduct, with allegations that church members were encouraged to obtain funds through unethical means. These included taking out large loans, engaging in benefit fraud, and even selling blood to raise money for the church.
The tribunal found Adegboyega’s claims of contributing positively to the community to be exaggerated and unsupported. While Adegboyega argued that deportation would violate his right to family life—citing his marriage to a British woman—the court determined that his removal would not significantly disrupt the church’s community outreach.
Despite his claims of rehabilitating at-risk youth and steering them away from crime, the tribunal dismissed Adegboyega’s defense as “hyperbolic and implausible.” Investigators found that his church’s practices disproportionately exploited vulnerable individuals.
Adegboyega’s immigration history further complicated his case. After entering the UK on a visitor visa in 2005, he overstayed and remained unlawfully. In 2019, he sought leave to remain, citing the European Convention on Human Rights’ right to family life. However, his application and subsequent appeals were dismissed, culminating in the tribunal’s recent deportation order.
The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of the UK’s immigration and charity regulations, raising questions about accountability and oversight for leaders of faith-based organizations.
For Adegboyega, the ruling marks a dramatic fall from grace. Once regarded as a charismatic leader with influence over hundreds of young people in London’s black communities, he now faces deportation and the collapse of his public image.
The tribunal’s decision serves as a warning about the exploitation of vulnerable communities and emphasizes the importance of accountability within religious and charitable organizations.
