The founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, SPAC Nation, Tobi Adegboyega, has claimed that he will be more influential in Nigeria than in the UK.

His remarks follow the UK immigration upper tribunal’s approval of his deportation due to an alleged £1.87 million fraud charge.

Despite the ruling, Adegboyega vehemently denied the fraud allegations, calling them baseless and unsubstantiated.

In a preview of an upcoming Off The Record podcast episode, when asked if SPAC Nation was the only church facing such accusations, he emphasized the church’s success in the UK and Europe.

“We are the largest independent church in the UK and Europe right now,” he claimed.

He added, “If I am in Nigeria, I will be bigger than this, 10x maybe. If I am in Paris, I will be happier. It’s holiday for me. London will miss me, so you better tell them, we still need this guy, nobody is close to us entertaining us.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, December 24, 2024, arraigned a businessman, Akindele Akintoye before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on charges bordering on money laundering and contract fraud.

Akintoye allegedly collected $35million from the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board to build a 2000 barrel- per -day refinery, jetty, gas plant, data centre, and tank farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, Okpoama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He allegedly mooted the idea of the project to the Board and the NCDMB embraced it with a counterpart funding to the tune of $35million. He allegedly received the funds through the bank account of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and funneled the funds into four of his companies: Platform Capital Investment Partners, Duport Midstream Company Ltd., Puisance Afrique Dynamics Ltd., Adamantine Petrochemical & Refinery Ltd and Bureau de Change outlets

At the court sitting on Monday, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the defendant faced a four-count charge filed on November 19, 2024, and requested that the charges be read to the defendant.

One of the counts read: “That you, Akindele Akintoye, and Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited, between December 2020 and February 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly retained the sum of $16,006,000 (Sixteen Million, Six Thousand United States Dollars), being part of the funds dishonestly converted from the money paid by the NCDMB to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited as investment, knowing the said sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activity, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” after the charges were read to him.

In view of his “not guilty” plea, Iheanacho requested the court to remand Akintoye in a Correctional Centre and sought a trial date.

However, counsel to the defendant, Emmanuel Esadio, applied for bail, stating that the application was filed and served on the prosecution.

Justice Nwite, in his response, emphasized the importance of allowing the prosecution to respond to the bail application, noting that the law requires a 48-hour period before a bail application can be considered.

“Justice is tripartite, to the accused, the defendant, and society. I cannot shut out the prosecution, they must be heard,” the Judge said.

Esadio further requested that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody, citing his client’s health issues and the need for easy access to legal counsel.

But Iheanacho opposed the request, arguing that the EFCC lacked adequate facilities and that Akintoye had demonstrated untrustworthiness, including allegedly retrieving his international passport after claiming it was in court custody.

“The defendant cannot be trusted. He has shown tendencies that suggest he may commit another crime. Additionally, there is no medical evidence before the court to support claims of ill health,” Iheanacho submitted.

After considering the arguments, Justice Nwite ordered Akintoye’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till December 31, 2024, for hearing on the bail application.

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm felicitations to Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, a trailblazer in Nigeria’s advertising industry, on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Tuesday, Tinubu described Shobanjo as a highly esteemed marketing communications expert and an advertising guru whose work has left an indelible mark on the industry.

“Dr. Biodun Shobanjo is not only a titan of the advertising world but also a beacon of excellence and innovation in Nigeria’s marketing communications sector. His dedication to his craft and his pioneering spirit have elevated the industry to new heights,” the President said.

Shobanjo’s illustrious career began at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation before he joined Grant Advertising in 1971. Rising swiftly through the ranks, he became Deputy Managing Director in 1976. Four years later, he founded Insight Communications, which would go on to revolutionise Nigeria’s advertising landscape.

Under Shobanjo’s leadership, Insight Communications expanded into a marketing powerhouse, launching initiatives such as Quadrant, Nigeria’s first public relations consultancy, and All Seasons Mediacom, the country’s first media independent agency. Over time, these enterprises were consolidated under the Troyka Organisation, which also includes Halogen Security, founded by Shobanjo in 1992.

Tinubu highlighted Shobanjo’s contributions to the nation’s development, particularly through the advancement of marketing communications, a sector crucial to economic growth, social progress, and infrastructural development.

Dr. Shobanjo’s accomplishments as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, and advertising professional exemplify discipline, integrity, and dedication. These virtues not only define his career but also inspire countless young professionals in the field,” Tinubu noted.

Reflecting on Shobanjo’s impact, Tinubu expressed confidence in his continued influence on the industry.

“I am certain that Dr. Shobanjo will remain a guiding light, sharing his vast knowledge and insights with practitioners striving to uphold best practices rooted in truth, local content promotion, and transparency—values that align with Nigeria’s development goals,” Tinubu added.

Concluding his message, Tinubu wished Shobanjo “many more years of good health, happiness, and continued success” while celebrating his extraordinary legacy.

Shobanjo’s contributions remain a testament to the transformative power of innovation and leadership in shaping industries and uplifting nations.