Tobi Adegboyega, 44, a Nigerian pastor and former leader of the controversial SPAC Nation church, has lost his legal battle to remain in the United Kingdom. An immigration tribunal ruled in favor of his deportation, dismissing claims that returning him to Nigeria would breach his human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Adegboyega, a cousin of Star Wars actor John Boyega, had argued that his contributions to UK society and his family life warranted his continued stay. Married to a British citizen, he highlighted his efforts to steer young people away from crime through SPAC Nation, a church primarily serving London’s young Black communities.

However, the tribunal found his claims unconvincing, citing investigations into the church’s finances and practices. The Charity Commission and High Court had previously shut down SPAC Nation due to serious concerns over financial mismanagement, including failing to account for £1.87 million in outgoings.

SPAC Nation, once praised for its outreach, was accused of coercive practices. Members claimed they were pressured to take loans, commit benefit fraud, and even sell blood to fund the church’s activities. Reports also alleged that church leaders lived extravagant lifestyles while their congregation, many from impoverished backgrounds, struggled financially.

Adegboyega denied these allegations, describing them as politically motivated and baseless. He insisted that no criminal charges had been filed against him regarding the church’s operations.

Despite Adegboyega’s claims that prominent figures, including Boris Johnson and senior police officials, had lauded his work, no supporting testimonies were provided. The tribunal criticized his evidence as “hyperbolic,” suggesting he exaggerated his role and influence within the community.

The judgment stated that Adegboyega’s family and private life relationships, established while he was in the UK unlawfully, would endure his return to Nigeria. The tribunal concluded that his deportation was “wholly proportionate” and that the projects he initiated could continue without him.

Adegboyega entered the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005, which he overstayed. In 2019, he applied for leave to remain under the ECHR’s right to a family life but was rejected. This latest ruling marks the end of his appeal process.

As Adegboyega prepares to leave the UK, his case underscores the complexities of immigration law and the scrutiny faced by high-profile figures with controversial pasts.