A Nigerian pastor whose church was allegedly closed over a £1.87 million fraud has lost his appeal against deportation, despite arguing that it would violate his human rights.
An immigration tribunal has ruled that Tobi Adegboyega, 44, cousin of Star Wars actor, John Boyega, should be deported to Nigeria after investigations uncovered financial misconduct at his church.
Adegboyega was the leader of SPAC Nation, a controversial church shut down for failing to properly account for over £1.87 million in expenses and for operating without transparency.
He argued that his deportation would infringe upon his right to a family life under the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), citing his marriage to a British woman.
He also contended that the Home Office failed to consider his community work with SPAC in the deportation decision.
Describing a “charismatic” community leader of a large, well-organised church, his legal team claimed that he had “intervened in the lives of many hundreds of young people, predominantly from the black communities in London, to lead them away from trouble”.
He claimed his work had been “lauded” by politicians including Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police, although no testimony by them was submitted to the court.
He said that without his personal presence in London, projects that he had masterminded would fall apart or reduce in size.
However, the tribunal was told the Home Office contended “all is not as it seems”.
“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.
