Primate Elijah Ayodele, the spiritual head of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has vigorously defended himself against allegations of attempted extortion leveled by the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu.
The controversy centers on a petition filed by Adelabu with the Department of State Services (DSS), in which he accuses the cleric of demanding a hefty N150 million for “spiritual intercession” aimed at securing the governorship of Oyo State for the minister.
Addressing his congregation during a Sunday service in Lagos, on the 14th of December, 2025, Primate Ayodele dismissed the accusation and Adelabu’s financial figures with a dramatic challenge. He sought to underscore his affluence and integrity by declaring that the sum in question was beneath his standard of living.
In a direct rebuttal of the N150 million claim cited in the Minister’s petition, the cleric posed the rhetorical question: “The shoe I wear, can N150 million buy it?”
Minister Adelabu’s detailed complaint specified that the demand allegedly included 1,000 saxophones and trumpets, with the estimated cost ranging between N50 million for local, fairly used instruments and N130 million for imported, first-grade items from China. Adelabu asserted that his refusal to meet these demands prompted the Primate to issue “false prophecies” designed to damage both his reputation and political career.
READ ALSO: Something Big Is Coming — Primate Ayodele Raises Alarm Over Angry Youths
Primate Ayodele, however, characterized the Minister as a “boy” whose comments lacked understanding, suggesting the allegations stem from political frustration. He attributed the Minister’s grievance to his foreknowledge that he “will lose another attempt to become the governor of Oyo.”
The cleric concluded his address by affirming his commitment to his spiritual calling, stressing that his prophecies are not for sale or personal gain. He told his followers: “I can’t disappoint you. I can only disappoint you when you are not a good person. I carry something bigger than me.”
He further emphasized the independent nature of his work: “I am not doing prophecies to impress you or invite you to me. I don’t do prophecies for you to come and do enquiries. Take it, or you leave it,” he stated.