Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, on Friday denied claims by Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu that he tried to extort N150 million from him.
Adelabu had reportedly petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging that Ayodele asked him to purchase about 1,000 trumpets worth up to N150 million. The minister also claimed that when he refused, the cleric prophesied that he would not become governor of Oyo State.
In a statement through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele said he never requested money from the minister. He explained that the trumpets were intended for Adelabu’s spiritual benefit and that the minister himself had asked about the cost. Ayodele said he only suggested that someone from Adelabu’s team verify the market prices while someone from his side followed to confirm.
He added that Adelabu, his personal assistant, and another associate put pressure on him due to the minister’s strong desire to secure the governorship ticket in Oyo State.
“I did not ask Bayo Adelabu for money. I told him to send someone to check the price of the trumpets while someone from my side confirmed it. He, his assistant, and the person he sent pressured me because he was desperate for the governorship,” Ayodele said.
Ayodele further stated that he informed Adelabu the party would not grant him the governorship ticket, but suggested he could seek God’s mercy by buying the musical instruments for spiritual purposes—not for the church. Adelabu reportedly declined.
“I told him they wouldn’t give him the governorship ticket, but if he wanted it, he could seek God’s mercy by buying the instruments for God, not for my church. He said he couldn’t do it, and that was the end of the discussion,” he said.
The cleric stressed that he had long spoken publicly about Adelabu’s ambition and consistently maintained that only divine intervention could make him governor. He emphasized that his later prophecies were not linked to any refusal to purchase the instruments.
“I have been saying for years that he won’t become governor. That is why he came to me. I never spoke to him before he sent people to request spiritual help. I do not make prophecies for money, and my statements after our discussion are not because he refused to buy the trumpets,” Ayodele said.