Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Refutes UK Deportation Claims and Addresses Church Allegations

Prominent Nigerian Pastor Tobi Adegboyega has rejected assertions that he was facing imminent deportation from the United Kingdom, where his religious organization is under scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities. Pastor Adegboyega, who leads SPAC Nation (Salvation Proclaimer Ministries Limited), now operating as Nation Family, informed the BBC: “There is no deportation order. Let me make that clear.” He further stated that the legal proceedings remain an “ongoing issue.” The preacher, seen wearing two jewel-encrusted rings and a Louis Vuitton tie, recounted that he arrived in the UK in 2005 at the age of 25 on a visitor’s visa, believing his family was managing his immigration documentation. However, this proved not to be the situation. “I lost track of time,” he commented, referring to the nearly decade-long delay in applying to formalize his immigration status. He also asserted that relocating his church to Nigeria would be “impossible” should he be deported. In December, an inquiry conducted by the UK Charity Commission identified “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration” of his church. Nevertheless, Pastor Adegboyega dismissed these findings. “It is false. They have been on this thing for the past four years,” he declared. This incident is not the first time the church has faced such accusations. A 2019 BBC Panorama investigation previously reported that the church had been accused of financially exploiting young congregants. Members claimed they were compelled to donate money after securing loans and through benefit fraud. The church denied these accusations at the time. Pastor Adegboyega similarly dismissed these allegations, stating: “If you have 1,000 people in a place, are you telling me 30 people will not be disgruntled? How on earth do you run an organisation without disgruntled people?” The Christian evangelical church was established as a charity in the UK in 2012, with objectives to assist vulnerable individuals, combat gun violence, and support young offenders. Pastor Adegboyega claimed his church had contributed to removing hundreds of knives from the streets. “We believe in a practical approach to help a community – young people coming out of low social-economic background, taking them out of crime,” he affirmed. Pastor Adegboyega also defended himself against criticism concerning his opulent lifestyle and preference for designer attire, expensive jewelry, and luxury timepieces. He arrived at the BBC office in central London in a Lamborghini, accompanied by a G-Wagon [a top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz SUV] for his accompanying staff. “I put on what is right, what connects to the generation I’m speaking to so they are not attracted to drug dealers,” he explained.