The Daily Torch Media .
The Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) accusing Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Oke Afa, Lagos, of attempting to extort N180 million from him under the guise of spiritual intercession related to his governorship ambition in Oyo State. [1]
In a petition dated October 13, 2025 and signed by Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, the minister urged the DSS to investigate Ayodele’s actions, alleging that the cleric had repeatedly approached him with unsolicited offers of “spiritual intercession” purportedly to guarantee his emergence as governor. The petition claims that Ayodele demanded huge sums of money and expensive items, including 24 APC flags and 1,000 saxophones/trumpets, valued between *N50 million and N130 million, as “prerequisites for divine favour.
According to the letter, after Adelabu refused to comply with the alleged demands, Ayodele reportedly began issuing public prophecies claiming that the minister would not win the governorship election. The petition described these statements as “malicious and false prophecies” that could harm the minister’s reputation, disturb public peace, and undermine confidence in the democratic process in Oyo State.
Adelabu, a former governorship candidate and declared aspirant for the 2027 Oyo governorship election, emphasised in the petition that his political ambition is driven by a desire to serve and not by spiritual manipulation or fetish practices. The letter urged the DSS to investigate Ayodele, compel him to retract the alleged false prophecies, issue a formal apology, and take appropriate legal action to deter similar practices in the future.
Primate Ayodele Denies Allegations:
In response, Primate Elijah Ayodele has rejected the extortion claims, insisting he never demanded money from the minister. In statements reported by several media outlets, Ayodele said the matter stemmed from a discussion about the cost of musical instruments, but *no transaction or demand for payment was made directly to him. He explained that it was Adelabu who asked about the price of the trumpets, and he merely provided an estimate, suggesting that the minister send someone to verify market prices.
Ayodele also maintained that he had cautioned the minister about the challenges of winning the governorship ticket, but he denied linking any prophecy to financial refusal. He described Adelabu’s alleged pursuit of spiritual help as coming from the minister’s own desire for political success, not from any attempt by the cleric to extort funds. The cleric further stated that he does not make prophecies for money, asserting that he is already blessed and that his subsequent prophecies were unrelated to the discussion about the instruments.
