Mr Dele Olawanle, lawyer to flamboyant Nigerian pastor based in the United Kingdom, UK, Tobi Adegboyega, has said the British government wouldn’t deport the cleric to Nigeria.
It was reported that the British government would deport Pastor Tobi Adegboyega to Nigeria following claims of £1.87m fraud in his church, SPAC Nation.
The UK authorities shut down SPAC Nation after it was accused of operating without transparency.
A British newspaper, The Telegraph, also reported that Adegboyega lost an Immigration battle as the Tribunal ruled that he should be deported.
Reacting, Olawanle dismissed these claims, while describing the publication as ignorant.
Posting on X, the UK-based lawyer said: “People with calls and text messages have inundated me since last night. I could not stop laughing when I read that Tobi Adegboyega faces deportation from the United Kingdom.
“The newspaper that carried the news was ignorant. I have acted for him as a lawyer on a personal basis and for the ministry. He is not facing deportation from the UK. That is elementary immigration law for journalists. Deportation is for criminals. He is not.
“Even though the courts and the charity commission had issues with SPAC NATIONS, he was not personally found guilty of any wrongdoing. Adegboyega has lived in the UK for at least 20 years without a criminal conviction.
“He has contributed significantly to the British community.”
Olawanle admitted that Adegboyega had overcome numerous challenges and remains a winner.
