The well-known Nigerian-born pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, has made headlines after losing his case at the immigration tribunal, resulting in a deportation order from the British government.
Naija News previously reported that the tribunal ruled to deport the 44-year-old pastor, who is also the cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, due to allegations of financial misconduct involving his church, SPAC Nation.
Investigations into the church’s activities uncovered these financial misconduct claims.
Despite his appeal, which cited family ties under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the tribunal upheld the decision for his deportation.
Here are 18 key facts about Pastor Tobi Adegboyega:
1. Date of Birth: Tobi Adegboyega was born on November 11, 1980.
2. Nationality: He is a Nigerian pastor with Yoruba heritage.
3. Church Leadership: He founded the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), later rebranded as NXTION Family, in London.
4. Move to the UK: Adegboyega relocated from Lagos, Nigeria, to London in 2005.
5. Early Life in London: He initially shared a room with his cousin, actor John Boyega, and worked as a kitchen porter.
6. Church Beginnings: SPAC Nation started in 2008 with just three members in Croydon, South London.
7. Unique Practices: He introduced a controversial initiative encouraging former criminals to surrender weapons during church services.
8. Leadership Transition: In May 2020, Adegboyega stepped down as Lead Pastor, passing leadership to Samuel Akokhia.
9. Church Closure: The UK government ordered SPAC Nation’s closure in June 2022 due to financial irregularities and lack of transparency.
10. Media Scrutiny: A BBC Panorama investigation accused Adegboyega and church leaders of financially exploiting members and highlighted his extravagant financial expectations.
11. Allegations of Misconduct: A former church member, Nino, claimed Adegboyega demanded £20,000 from him for an alleged investment. The church denied the allegations, and Adegboyega refused to be interviewed by Panorama.
12. Controversial Statements: Panorama later released a video where Adegboyega stated it was “no big deal” for members to contribute at least £1,000 monthly and mentioned his goal of earning £1 million per month.
13. Parliamentary Accusations: In January 2020, MP Steve Reed accused SPAC Nation of financial exploitation and fraud, though police declined to pursue a criminal investigation.
14. Youth Exploitation Claims: In 2019, the church faced allegations of pressuring young people to sell their blood for money.
15. Abuse Allegations: SPAC Nation was also accused of domestic and sexual abuse, alongside other misconduct claims.
16. Lavish Lifestyle: Adegboyega lives in a £2.5 million mansion in Surrey, reflecting his luxurious lifestyle.
17. Marriage: In a 2020 interview, he revealed he had been married to a British woman for eight years, which he cited in his deportation appeal.