FRAUD ALLEGATIONS: UK TIBUNAL ORDERS DEPORTATION OF FLAMBOYANT PASTOR OF SPAC NATION

 

Lead Pastor of the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), Tobi Adegboyega.

A UK immigration tribunal has ruled to deport Tobi Adegboyega, lead pastor of the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), following allegations of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and fraudulent activities.

According to The Telegraph UK, the tribunal considered testimonies from former church members who described SPAC Nation as a cult, accusing its leadership of coercing young followers into taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their blood to make donations.

The tribunal highlighted concerns over the church's finances, stating that several branches had been shut down by either the Charity Commission or the High Court due to a lack of transparency. Additionally, allegations of abuse and reports of leaders living extravagant lifestyles were central to the decision.

The ruling also revealed that Adegboyega had been living unlawfully in the UK since 2005, having overstayed his visitor visa. In 2019, he applied for leave to remain, citing his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), claiming his marriage to a British citizen made deportation unjust.

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His legal team argued that his charitable efforts had positively impacted hundreds of young people, particularly from London's Black communities, and that his presence was vital to continue these initiatives. Adegboyega claimed support from prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior Metropolitan Police officials, though no official testimonies from them were presented in court.

Adegboyega denied any criminal misconduct, asserting that accusations of SPAC Nation being a cult were politically motivated. However, the tribunal found his claims exaggerated, ruling that his influence was overstated and that the church’s charitable work would continue without him.

"We are not satisfied that SPAC Nation’s positive work would collapse if [Adegboyega] left the UK," the tribunal stated. "His family and private life relationships, formed while he was in the UK unlawfully, would endure after his return to Nigeria."

SPAC Nation, founded in 2008 and registered as a charity in 2012, initially gained acclaim for its work with troubled youth, especially former gang members. However, its reputation deteriorated in 2019 when ex-members accused senior leaders of financial exploitation.

In 2022, the UK High Court ordered the church's closure after Adegboyega was found guilty of fraud involving £1.87 million. Despite Adegboyega’s insistence that the accusations were baseless, the tribunal deemed his deportation proportionate and lawful.