Tobi Adegboyega, former pastor of SPAC Nation and cousin to actor John Boyega, has lost his appeal to remain in the United Kingdom and faces deportation to Nigeria. Adegboyega, who overstayed a visitor visa in 2005, argued that deportation would breach his human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He claimed his work with SPAC Nation, which focused on youth rehabilitation, had significantly benefited the community. However, the tribunal dismissed these claims, citing allegations of financial mismanagement and exploitative practices within the church.
SPAC Nation, which catered to young Black communities in London, was shut down after failing to account for £1.87 million in outgoings. Investigations revealed that members were reportedly pressured into extreme fundraising measures, including taking loans, committing benefit fraud, and selling their blood. The Charity Commission found evidence of “serious misconduct and/or mismanagement,” while the tribunal criticized Adegboyega for exaggerating his influence, dismissing his claim that the organization would collapse in his absence.
The tribunal ruled that Adegboyega’s family and private relationships, all formed while he was in the UK unlawfully, could be maintained after his return to Nigeria. Concluding that deportation was “wholly proportionate,” the judgment emphasized that his positive contributions did not outweigh the serious concerns surrounding SPAC Nation’s operations and his immigration violations. Adegboyega now faces removal after nearly two decades in the UK.