Rita Odafe
Pastor Tobi Adegboyega’s Deportation Approved by UK Tribunal
Recent information has emerged explaining the UK Immigration Upper Tribunal’s decision to approve the deportation of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation). This 44-year-old pastor initially arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but overstayed after it expired, later seeking to remain on human rights grounds after marrying a British citizen.
His request to stay was denied by the Home Office, leading him to appeal to the first-tier tribunal, which also ruled against him. Subsequently, he appealed to the upper tribunal on August 15, 2022.
Through his lawyer, Dele Olawanle, Adegboyega argued that his church had launched several initiatives aimed at helping troubled youth in the UK, steering them away from crime and gang involvement. He claimed that his deportation would adversely affect these community efforts, which had garnered support from notable UK figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and members of the Metropolitan Police.
Additionally, Adegboyega stated that he was instrumental in establishing a food bank that provided over 136,000 meals for children, and he claimed to have offered guidance to many young people from London’s black communities.
He further indicated that he had created a network of safe houses in London to assist young individuals seeking to escape gang conflicts.
However, judges Bruce and Rastogi emphasized the necessity for Adegboyega to return to Nigeria, dismissing his claims. They highlighted that the pastor had overstayed his visa and that his assertions regarding his community work were exaggerated.
According to the tribunal’s judgement, Adegboyega had “grossly inflated” his contributions, labeling his claims as “hyperbolic” and lacking substantial evidence. The tribunal concluded that his work could persist without him living in the UK and deemed his marriage insufficient as a justification for his immigration violations.
The court remarked on the lack of supporting evidence from major institutions like the Metropolitan Police and Downing Street regarding his claimed endorsements.
Moreover, the judges pointed out that there was no backing for his assertions that his presence was crucial for community safety in light of recent events or for crime fighting. There was also no verified evidence of his frequent visits to Downing Street as he claimed.
During the tribunal, Adegboyega described a packed schedule of six church events each day and home visits to congregants, along with supervising multiple community initiatives. Yet, the tribunal found it unrealistic for him to manage all these tasks personally, suggesting it was likely that such responsibilities were shared among other members of SPAC Nation.
