Pastor Tobi Adegboyega's legal team has strongly refuted reports that the Nigerian-UK-based pastor is facing deportation from the United Kingdom, calling the claims “ignorant” and “false.”
The remarks came after The Telegraph published a story alleging that Adegboyega had lost his appeal against deportation over accusations of financial misconduct within his now-defunct church, SPAC Nation.
According to the report, Adegboyega was accused of failing to account for over £1.87 million in financial transactions, leading to the closure of SPAC Nation by the Charity Commission for “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement.
” The church, once a popular institution, was embroiled in controversies involving allegations from former members who described it as a "cult" that manipulated vulnerable individuals into engaging in illegal activities such as loan-taking, benefit fraud, and even selling blood for donations.
In a ruling, the UK tribunal concluded that while SPAC Nation’s work was notable, the church could continue without Adegboyega in the UK.
The tribunal stated that his personal ties in the UK, established unlawfully, would not prevent his return to Nigeria.
However, Adegboyega’s lawyer, Dele Olawanle, swiftly responded on Instagram, dismissing the deportation claims as “false” and emphasizing that the pastor is not a criminal.
“He is not facing deportation from the UK. Deportation is for criminals. He is not,” Olawanle stated.
Olawanle also clarified that while SPAC Nation had faced scrutiny from both the courts and the Charity Commission, there was no evidence that Adegboyega himself had been personally convicted of any crime.
“Tobi has lived in the UK for at least 20 years without a criminal conviction. He has contributed significantly to the British community,” Olawanle added.
The lawyer criticized the sensational nature of the reports, particularly pointing out the tendency of some to celebrate others’ misfortunes.
“Sensationalism is an act of idiocy. It is not worth the paper it was written on,” he remarked, condemning the public’s rush to judgment without proper facts.
Olawanle concluded by reiterating that the deportation news was untrue and stated that he would make no further comments on the matter.
“I have said that this latest news on deportation is false, and I will make no further comments on this deportation matter privately or officially.”
The ongoing public scrutiny surrounding Adegboyega highlights the challenges faced by high-profile figures involved in controversial organizations, despite their personal legal standings.