Dare Babalola
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has rejected allegations by Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu that he attempted to extort N150 million from him, calling the claims unfounded.
In a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS), Adelabu accused Primate Ayodele of asking him to buy around 1,000 trumpets, valued at N150 million.
The minister claimed that after he refused the request, Primate Ayodele prophesied that he would not become governor of the state, according to the petition.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele denied attempting to extort N150 million from Adelabu, clarifying that he only suggested the minister acquire the trumpets for his own benefit, not for personal financial gain.
Primate Ayodele 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.
Ayodele revealed that aside from Adelabu, two others, including the minister’s personal assistant, had been pressuring him, noting that the minister was exhibiting intense desperation for the Oyo State governor’s seat.
He said, “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.”
Primate Ayodele further explained that he had told Adelabu they wouldn’t be endorsing him for the governorship ticket, but suggested he seek divine favor by purchasing the trumpets, not for the church’s use. According to Ayodele, Adelabu refused, and the conversation ended there, with no further discussion.
The statement added, “I told him that they won’t want to give him the governorship ticket, but if he wants it so bad, he should seek the mercy of God by buying the musical instruments for God, not even for my church, but he said he can’t do it, that’s all.”
Primate Ayodele pointed out that he has publicly spoken about Bayo Adelabu’s ambition for years, consistently stating it would take divine grace for him to become Oyo State governor.
He emphasised that the allegations don’t add up, as he hadn’t spoken to Adelabu personally until the minister sent people to approach him.
“I have been talking about how he won’t be made governor of Oyo State for years; this is why he called me to seek solutions. I have never spoken to him before till he sent people to me and personally requested my spiritual help. I don’t make prophecies to make money, I am blessed already, and my subsequent prophecies after our discussion about his ambition aren’t because he failed to buy the musical instrument, it can never be,” the cleric concluded.
