The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, officially rejected accusations made against him by the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, concerning an alleged attempt to solicit N150 million from him. A media organization had previously published a report detailing that Adelabu submitted a petition to the Department of State Services, or DSS, claiming that Primate Ayodele had instructed him to purchase approximately 1,000 trumpets, an item that would cost up to N150 million. The minister contended that following his refusal to comply with this request, the prophet delivered a prediction that he would not succeed in becoming the governor of Oyo State.
Primate Ayodele, through a formal statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, dismissed the claim that he attempted to extort the minister for the stated sum. He clarified that he never requested that Adelabu send him money directly, only that he should acquire the trumpets, which he maintained were intended for the minister’s own benefit. The cleric explained that it was the minister who initially inquired about the cost, and after providing a figure, he asked Adelabu to delegate someone from his team to visit the market and confirm the actual prices of the musical instruments.
Ayodele further mentioned that aside from Adelabu himself, there were two other individuals, including the minister’s personal assistant, who were putting significant pressure on him because the minister was showing extreme desperation regarding his pursuit of the governorship position in Oyo State. Ayodele stated, “I did not ask Bayo Adelabu to provide funds for prayers; I instructed him to have someone from his side go to the market to determine the price of the trumpet, with a person from my side accompanying them.” He added that his personal assistant, the minister, and the person sent to him had caused him great stress due to Adelabu’s urgent desire for the governorship.
He further elaborated that Adelabu initiated contact by sending someone to speak to him on his behalf, going so far as to express a willingness to do anything to become the next Oyo State governor, and the only suggestion given was to obtain the trumpets for his own welfare. Primate Ayodele explained that he informed Adelabu that the governorship ticket was unlikely to be granted to him, but that he could seek divine favor by purchasing the musical instruments, which were not necessarily for the prophet’s church, but the minister declined this suggestion. The cleric confirmed that there was no other discussion beyond this point.
Primate Ayodele asserted that for years he had been speaking about Bayo Adelabu’s political aspirations and consistently maintained that only God’s mercy would allow him to become governor of Oyo State. He argued that his subsequent predictions could not have been motivated by the minister’s refusal to comply, as he had never even spoken to Adelabu until the minister had proactively sent people to him. He explained, “I have been publicly stating for years that he will not be made governor of Oyo State, and this is why he reached out to me for solutions. I had never communicated with him before he sent people to me and personally requested my spiritual guidance.” He concluded by emphasizing that he does not make prophecies for financial gain, as he is already well-off, and his prophecies made after their conversation regarding the minister’s ambition are absolutely not related to his failure to buy the musical instruments.
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