December 4th 2024.
In a recent development, Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, who was at the helm of a church embroiled in a £1.87 million fraud case, has lost his fight against deportation. Adegboyega, who happens to be the cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, was the leader of SPAC Nation, a controversial church that reportedly ran inappropriate "safe houses" for vulnerable individuals, particularly from the black community.
The church came under scrutiny when it was discovered that a large portion of its income was not being processed through a bank account. As a result, the church was forced to shut down after being unable to account for almost £2 million in expenses. In light of this, an immigration tribunal has ruled that Adegboyega should be deported to his home country of Nigeria due to the misuse of funds by his church.
Adegboyega, who is married to a British woman, argued that his deportation would violate his right to a family life under the European Convention of Human Rights. His lawyers also pointed out that his contributions to the community through SPAC Nation, which aims to steer young people away from trouble, would be greatly impacted if he were to be forced to leave London. However, the Home Office disputed these claims, stating that there was more to the situation than meets the eye.
According to the Home Office, former members of the church have alleged that it operates like a cult, where vulnerable individuals are encouraged to do whatever it takes to donate money, including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud, and even selling their own blood. There have also been allegations of lavish lifestyles among the church leadership and instances of abuse. The final judgement of the tribunal considered all of these factors in evaluating whether Adegboyega truly brings value to the UK.
Adegboyega has been living in the UK without lawful permission since overstaying on a visitor's visa in 2005. He applied for leave to remain in 2019, but his application was rejected, prompting him to launch an appeal. During the tribunal, he maintained that no one has ever faced criminal charges over the church's finances, and that the accusations against him and SPAC Nation are politically motivated and unfounded.
In the meantime, a Charity Commission investigation into the church has found evidence of serious misconduct and mismanagement over a significant period. This latest development has sparked speculation about the future of SPAC Nation and its community projects, with Adegboyega's potential deportation looming over the organization. As always, we will continue to bring you the latest updates on this story and other news from the capital. Stay tuned to Metro's London news hub for all the latest updates.
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