Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has refuted allegations by the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, that he attempted to extort N150 million from him for prayers.
Reports earlier revealed that Adelabu petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), claiming Ayodele demanded the purchase of about 1,000 trumpets worth roughly N150 million as part of a spiritual directive. He also alleged that the cleric later prophesied that he would not become Oyo governor because he refused to comply.
Responding through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele dismissed the allegations as false and misleading. According to him, he never solicited money from the minister but merely offered spiritual guidance when Adelabu inquired about the trumpets.
Ayodele said Adelabu was the one who asked about the cost of the instruments, and he simply gave a rough estimate, advising that someone should verify the actual market price.
He further claimed that Adelabu, his personal assistant, and an intermediary pressured him relentlessly because of the minister’s desperation to achieve his political ambition.
“I didn’t ask Bayo Adelabu to bring money for prayers,” Ayodele insisted. “His PA, himself, and the person he sent to me put me under so much pressure because he was desperate for governorship.”
The cleric alleged that Adelabu even promised to give “anything” to secure the Oyo governorship seat.
“He was the one who sent someone to speak to me… the only thing I told him was to get the trumpets for his own spiritual good,” he said.
Ayodele explained that he told the minister long ago that clinching the Oyo governorship ticket would be difficult and only advised him to seek divine mercy through an act of faith. “He said he couldn’t do it, that’s all,” he added.
The cleric stressed that his prophecies had nothing to do with Adelabu’s refusal to buy the instruments.
“I have been saying for years that he won’t be governor of Oyo State. I don’t make prophecies to make money. My prophecies aren’t tied to his refusal to buy musical instruments — never,” he affirmed.
