Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has accused Primate Elijah Ayodele, has accused the Founder and Head of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, of attempted extortion, blackmail, and using false prophecies to tarnish his public image.
Adelabu, who has already declared interest in contesting the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, levelled the allegations in a petition dated October 13, 2025, and addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS). The petition was signed by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.
According to Adelabu, Primate Ayodele persistently approached him with unsolicited offers of “spiritual support” allegedly required to guarantee his victory in the 2027 governorship race.
Adelabu said the cleric demanded over ₦150 million, including money and expensive “spiritual items”, to make him governor of Oyo State.
In text messages between the minister and the cleric, Ayodele allegedly requested 24 All Progressives Congress (APC) flags for prayers, as well as 1,000 trumpets or saxophones. The Nigerian fairly-used grade totalled ₦50 million, while grade-one imported versions were said to cost ₦130 million. Ayodele allegedly asked that the items be delivered on April 1, and later extended the deadline to April 4.
In the messages, he repeatedly claimed his instructions came from God, and insisted that Adelabu would “rule Oyo State”, urging him to perform religious recitations and attend midnight vigils. The Minister, however, reportedly rejected the demands, stating he could not afford the items and would not base his political ambition on spiritual manipulation.
Adelabu said following his refusal, Ayodele allegedly began releasing public prophecies declaring that the minister would fail in his governorship bid. The cleric, in videos, was seen accusing the minister of “making mistakes”, and insisted that his warnings were divinely inspired. He also challenged Adelabu to arrest or sue him.
In his petition to the DSS, Adelabu described the cleric’s actions as extortive, malicious, and capable of inciting public unrest. He said the false prophecies were retaliatory and intended to undermine his credibility. The Minister also petitioned the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, urging security agencies to investigate Ayodele and compel him to retract his declarations.
Meanwhile, Ayodele denied attempting to extort ₦150 million from Adelabu, saying he only suggested the minister acquire the trumpets for his own benefit, not for personal financial gain.
Ayodele, in a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, explained that it was the minister who inquired about the cost, and he provided a figure, suggesting Adelabu send someone to the market to verify the prices of the trumpets himself.
The cleric stated: “I didn’t ask Bayo Adelabu to bring money for prayers; I told him to ask someone from his end to go to the market and find out how much the said trumpet cost, while someone follows them from my end too.
“His personal assistant, himself, and the person he sent to me put me under so much pressure because he was desperate for governorship.
“He was the one who sent someone to me to talk to me on his behalf. He went as far as saying he was willing to give anything to become the next governor of Oyo State; and the only thing I told him is to get the trumpets for his own good”.
