Following accusations of financial impropriety by the UK government, controversial UK-based Nigerian Pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, has stated that he was not afraid of deportation to Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Daddy Freeze, the controversial cleric outrightly debunked the allegations and expressed frustration over the scrutiny he has faced, particularly from Nigerians.
He elaborated on his unwavering connection to Nigeria, stating that he is unbothered by the possibility of returning.
“So if I have to, why would I be afraid of coming to Nigeria? I’m proud of Nigeria. And the current government is doing well. Anybody who thinks otherwise can jump off the cliff.
“That’s my own opinion. I’m not going to take that out. If I arrive in Nigeria, I will come with a cavalry of outstanding young men and women, and we will live way better than we are living in our assignment ground. I don’t need to stress about how to have money in Nigeria. Two shoes, three maybe, will sustain me for three years,” he said.
“I lost track of time”
The pastor further addressed claims during a BBC interview, denying reports of an immigration tribunal’s decision supporting his deportation.
“There is no deportation order; let me clarify that,” he stated. “The next step is already done, meaning there is a court case already.”
Earlier this month, the cleric was said to risk deportation following a report by The Telegraph UK, which alleged that the publicity-loving pastor was enmeshed in £1.87M fraud allegations.
He also admitted to overstaying his visitor visa after arriving in the UK in 2005, explaining that it was due to a misunderstanding about his immigration status. “I lost track of time, and I had assumed my family was handling the paperwork,” he said.
“I also don’t understand the order because I’ve not paid attention to any immigration rules for a minute. But the question is, to Nigerians, deportation, how does that? I’m not your government official. I don’t lead your country. I’m not your artist because your artists still love them, as you know. But you made them, sponsored them, and bought their albums.
“What’s my own with you? That was my own. I have personal battles, and that becomes your battle. If I were your government official or your current government, I would be a citizen of the country I need and want to be. Because money makes you have choices,” he said.
Despite accusations, Mr Adegboyega dismissed them as baseless and attributed them to disgruntled former church members. “In any organisation with 1,000 people, some will be disgruntled. That doesn’t mean the allegations are valid,” he said.
When asked if he would move his church to Nigeria when deported, Mr Adegboyega said, “It’s impossible.
“My organisation is here; it is everywhere. To move it to anywhere else is to leave people to keep killing themselves. So no, we are not going to move the organisation. We will establish more and find what we need to do.”
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