December 08, (THEWILL) – Fresh details have emerged on the reasons behind the United Kingdom Immigration Upper Tribunal’s approval of the deportation of Tobi Adegboyega, the controversial founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church.
The 44-year-old self-proclaimed pastor, who entered the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 and overstayed after its expiration, had sought to remain in the country on human rights grounds.
He also attempted to secure his stay through marriage to a British citizen.
Following the denial of his request by the Home Office, Adegboyega’s subsequent appeals to the first-tier tribunal and the upper tribunal were also rejected.
His latest appeal, filed on August 15, 2022, was dismissed by Judges Bruce and Rastogi, who ruled that his arguments were unsubstantiated and exaggerated.
In his defense, Adegboyega, through his lawyer, Dele Olawanle, claimed that his church had launched multiple intervention programs aimed at rescuing troubled youth from gang violence and crime.
He also argued that his deportation would harm ongoing projects supported by prominent UK figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Metropolitan Police.
However, the tribunal found these claims to be “hyperbolic and unsupported by substantive evidence.”
“There was nothing before us from the Metropolitan Police, Downing Street, the Mayor of London, or the Home Office, all institutions which the appellant claims to have enthusiastically endorsed his work,” the tribunal stated.
The court also dismissed Adegboyega’s assertion that his presence was indispensable to calming racial tensions and combating crime, labeling his claims as grossly inflated.
The court noted, “When we asked him to describe an average day, the appellant told us he schedules six church events daily, visits 20 congregants weekly, and spends hours counseling troubled youths.
“Even allowing for his admission that this causes him to run late, we find it implausible that he personally undertakes all this work. It is far more likely distributed among pastors and congregants of SPAC Nation.”
The court also addressed Adegboyega’s financial situation, noting that he was entirely dependent on his wife, Mary Olubukola Alade, a £100,000-a-year professional.
Adegboyega admitted that he does not earn from his church, stating he had “sacrificed” a potential legal career to serve his community.
The tribunal further scrutinised his extravagant lifestyle, which has been a source of controversy.
He claimed that his designer clothing and luxury cars were funded by his wife and intended to inspire young people to pursue legitimate wealth.
Adegboyega’s legal troubles add to a history of allegations, including financial misconduct.
A BBC documentary accused him of defrauding church members under the guise of funding community programs, with the money allegedly used to sustain his opulent lifestyle. Investigations by the UK Charity Commission and the High Court uncovered financial impropriety involving over £1.87 million, leading to the closure of SPAC Nation in 2022.
Following the tribunal’s ruling, Adegboyega took to Instagram to dismiss the allegations and downplay the deportation order.
“I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm.
“Living in the UK, a city known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts. This is the smallest matter,” he said.
Hours later, the cleric shared a video of himself dancing and claimed that his companies had raised over £1 million since news of his deportation surfaced.
“This is a blessing I couldn’t see coming,” he wrote.
Despite the ruling, Adegboyega retains the option to appeal to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. According to the UK Home Office, he must file the appeal within 28 days of receiving permission from the upper tribunal.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
