A prominent UK-based Nigerian pastor with ties to the Croydon Conservative party, whose church was the focus of a £1.87m fraud investigation, now faces deportation after having his appeal to remain in the country dismissed at an immigration tribunal.   

Tobi Adegboyega, cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, is understood to have lived in the UK illegally for almost 20 years, arriving on a visit visa in 2005.   

His appeal for leave to remain was largely based on his view that deportation would contravene his right to a private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The tribunal ruled, however, that he could not demonstrate that there would be “insurmountable obstacles” to the continuation of his family life in Nigeria.   

Adegboyega also argued his presence is a “necessity” to fighting crime in Croydon and that it is required to “calm the nerves of people from ethnic minorities” following the far-right riots during the summer. The tribunal disagreed with these claims, describing them as “hyperbolic” in most instances. 

In a statement released on his Instagram Adegboyega appears to downplay the tribunal’s decision: “I’ve heard a lot today, and I’m doing this because of our friends, our fans, people who are worried. I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm. And naturally I dismiss things that have to do with retrogression. Every Nigerian should be proud of me.   

“I have survived all sorts, the matter they are propagating is the smallest of matters. No panic. I love London city, it is my city, and nobody can do anything.” 

His lawyer, Dele Olawanle, completely dismissed any notion that his client would be deported in his own Instagram post: “I could not stop laughing when I read that Tobi Adegboyega faces deportation from the United Kingdom. 

“He is not facing deportation from the UK. That is elementary immigration laws for journalists. Deportation is for criminals. He is not.” 

United Kingdom law permits the removal of those who overstay their visit visa unless they regularise their status, can demonstrate their remaining is in the public interest or that deportation would adversely affect their human rights. Adegbayo failed to regularise his position in both 2015 and 2016 and the tribunal found that he was unable to provide adequate evidence for the other two provisions.   

Adegboyega has been involved in a slew of controversies during his time in the UK, with his church group SPAC Nation forced into liquidation in 2022 after an Insolvency Service investigation revealed that it could not account for £1.87 million in expenditure. Edna Okhira, then the Service’s Chief Investigator, said that the Church had been operating with a “lack of transparency.” 

“There were clear concerns around how the church group managed its affairs and SPAC Nation failed to properly account for income received from donations and other expenditure,” she said. 

A separate inquiry by the Charity Commission found that: “there had been serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity which was sustained over a substantial period of time. The trustees failed to act with reasonable care and skill, including while the statutory inquiry was open”.   

“The way in which the charity operated was highly unusual and placed its charitable assets, including its reputation, at considerable risk. The charity’s financial record keeping was inadequate, including for payments that could have posed a reputational risk to the charity.”   

Former members of SPAC Nation have also accused the church of abuse and exploitation. The tribunal’s report highlights allegations that they were encouraged to fund donations through any means available “including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud and even selling their own blood.” 

Adegboyega and SPAC Nation have links to the Croydon Conservatives. The support of Mario Creatura, Tory candidate for Croydon Central in the 2020 General Election and current Croydon councillor, appears to have been crucial to the installation of SPAC Nation pastor Jayne Edwards as the Conservative candidate in a 2019 council by-election. Edwards also received support from William Perry, son of incumbent Croydon Mayor Jason Perry. 

Speaking in Parliament about SPAC Nation and Edward’s campaign in 2020, MP for Streatham and Croydon North Steve Reed said: “It was odd to find hundreds of young members of this so-called church shouting abuse at other parties’ canvassers, shouting obscenities at the council leader, and intimidating voters on their own doorsteps.”