Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Oke Afa, Lagos, has refuted claims that he tried to extort Bayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, in connection with Adelabu’s bid to become governor of Oyo State.
Earlier reports revealed that Adelabu had petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging that Ayodele demanded N150 million and expensive spiritual items in exchange for prayers that would secure him the governorship. Adelabu, who previously contested the Oyo governorship twice, plans to run again in 2027.
The minister claimed that Ayodele instructed him to provide 24 APC flags and purchase 1,000 trumpets or saxophones, with costs ranging from N50 million for locally made instruments to N130 million for imported Chinese versions. According to Adelabu, his refusal to comply led Ayodele to predict that he would not become governor.
In response, Ayodele, through his media aide Osho Oluwatosin, clarified that he never asked Adelabu for N150 million. He confirmed discussing the musical instruments, which Adelabu requested to verify costs, but emphasized that the request was not for personal gain or extortion.
“I never asked Adelabu to send money for prayers. He inquired about the cost of the trumpets, and I suggested he send someone to confirm the prices while my representative also observed. The purpose was not for my church but to seek divine favor,” Ayodele said.
Ayodele explained that he merely advised Adelabu to buy the instruments to seek God’s guidance for his political ambition. He denied that his prophecies were intended to coerce or profit from the minister.
“For years, I have spoken about the challenges Adelabu might face in his political ambitions. My guidance to him was spiritual advice, not a demand. He approached me, and I never initiated contact with him,” Ayodele added.
He reiterated that his prophecies were not linked to Adelabu’s refusal to buy the instruments and that he does not use predictions for monetary gain.
