21 Things to Know About Pastor Tobi Adegboyega
The British Government has announced its decision to deport popular pastor Tobi Adegboyega to Nigeria. Adegboyega, 44, lost at the immigration tribunal over allegations of financial misconduct at his church. He argued that deportation would violate his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as he is married to a British citizen.
Here are 21 noteworthy facts about Pastor Tobi Adegboyega:
- Date of Birth: Tobi Adegboyega was born on November 11, 1980.
- Nationality: He is a Nigerian pastor.
- Founder: Adegboyega established the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation, later known as the NXTION Family), a Pentecostal church that is now defunct.
- Migration to the UK: He moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to London in 2005.
- Early Days in London: Upon arriving, he shared a room with his cousin, Star Wars actor John Boyega, and worked as a kitchen porter.
- Ethnic Roots: Both he and Boyega are of Yoruba descent.
- Founding SPAC Nation: Adegboyega started SPAC Nation in 2008 with only three members.
- Church Location: The church was based in Croydon, South London.
- Weapon Amnesty: As a pastor, he gained attention by encouraging attendees to surrender weapons at the church altar—a practice that sparked both praise and criticism.
- Stepping Down: On May 20, 2020, he announced his resignation as Lead Pastor, passing leadership to Samuel Akokhia two years before the church’s closure.
- Official Announcement: The handover was declared through the church’s official Twitter account.
- BBC Investigation: A BBC Panorama investigation accused Adegboyega and church leaders of financially exploiting members.
- Allegations: Former members accused the church of manipulation, prompting public calls for accountability.
- Money Demands: Panorama released footage of Adegboyega stating that members should contribute at least £1,000 monthly and that he aimed to raise £1 million monthly.
- Investment Allegations: A member claimed Adegboyega asked for £20,000 for an investment, which the church denied. Adegboyega refused an interview with Panorama.
- Parliamentary Accusation: In January 2020, MP Steve Reed accused the church of fraud and exploitation, though police chose not to pursue a criminal investigation.
- Other Allegations: SPAC Nation faced accusations of financial misappropriation, fraud, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse.
- Blood Donation Claims: In 2019, the church was accused of pressuring young people to sell blood for money.
- Closure of SPAC Nation: In June 2022, the U.K. government ordered SPAC Nation to shut down for failing to account for £1.87 million and operating without transparency.
- Lavish Lifestyle: Adegboyega resides in a £2.5 million mansion in Surrey.
- Personal Life: In a 2020 interview, he revealed he had been married for eight years.
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