UK-based Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of the SPAC Nation church, has addressed controversies surrounding his immigration status and allegations of financial impropriety.

In an interview with the BBC on Friday, Adegboyega clarified that there is no deportation order against him, despite reports of an immigration tribunal ruling in favor of his removal from the UK.

The pastor, who arrived in the UK in 2005 at the age of 25 on a visitor’s visa, admitted to overstaying but said the lapse was unintentional.

“I lost track of time,” he explained, citing a nearly decade-long delay in applying to regularise his immigration status.

He added that he had assumed his family was handling the necessary paperwork.

The controversy has been fueled by claims that Adegboyega is linked to a £1.87 million fraud involving misuse of church funds.

However, the pastor dismissed the allegations as baseless and attributed them to “disgruntled members” of his congregation.

“How on earth do you run an organisation without disgruntled people?” he asked during the interview.

Adegboyega also emphasized his church’s role in addressing societal issues in the UK.

“Our church has helped get hundreds of knives off the streets and tackled gun violence,” he said, highlighting SPAC Nation’s community outreach efforts.

The charismatic preacher, often seen wearing luxury fashion items, responded to criticism of his lifestyle, stating that his appearance is intentional.

“I put on what is right, what connects to the generation I’m speaking to, so they are not attracted to drug dealers,” he explained.

While the pastor confirmed that the legal battle over his immigration status is ongoing, he insisted the matter is in the hands of the judges.

“There is no deportation order, let me make that clear,” Tobi Adegboyega reiterated, as he continues to fight to remain in the UK.