Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega explains he overstayed his UK visa for nearly a decade due to losing track of time. Facing deportation over a £1.87 million fraud case linked to his church, he denies the allegations and defends his church’s positive community impact. Deportation proceedings remain ongoing.
Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of the SPAC Nation church, has responded to his proposed deportation by the UK government, explaining that he overstayed his visa due to losing track of time. In a recent interview with the BBC, the 44-year-old pastor revealed that he arrived in the UK in 2005 on a visitor's visa at age 25 and failed to legalize his stay, assuming his family was handling the paperwork.
Adegboyega is facing deportation after being implicated in a £1.87 million fraud scheme involving his church. Investigations into the church's finances found evidence of misused funds, leading to a tribunal ruling for his deportation. However, the pastor denied the fraud allegations, calling them the result of disgruntled church members. He also emphasized his church's positive work in the community, including efforts to reduce youth violence and remove weapons from the streets.
Despite facing criticism for his lavish lifestyle, Adegboyega defended his choices, saying his appearance is meant to appeal to younger generations and discourage them from following harmful influences. Adegboyega asserted that there is no formal deportation order, describing the matter as an ongoing issue awaiting a final decision from the UK courts.
