Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has lodged a formal petition with the Department of State Services (DSS) accusing Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, of attempting to extort N150 million from him under the guise of offering “spiritual interventions” to secure his 2027 Oyo governorship bid.
Adelabu, who has already declared interest in returning to the governorship race, alleged that the cleric resorted to blackmail and damaging prophecies after he rejected persistent financial and material demands.
The petition, dated October 13, 2025, and signed by Bolaji Tunji, his special adviser on strategic communications and media relations, was addressed to the DSS director-general.
‘THE LORD INSTRUCTED ME’
Text messages exchanged between both men, and reviewed by TheCable, show Primate Ayodele requesting 24 APC flags and 1,000 saxophones or trumpets—items he said were needed for special prayers.
The cleric estimated the cost of the instruments at between N50 million for locally used versions and N130 million for imported grade-one pieces from China. He initially set April 1 as the deadline for delivery, later extending it to April 4.
“Sir, I don’t do this, but because of the love I have for you,” Ayodele wrote in one message, repeatedly insisting that his requests were based on “God’s instruction”.
He urged Adelabu to pick his calls and follow a series of spiritual directives, including reciting almu nasira 200 times and observing a 1am vigil. The cleric also said he had written several letters to the minister while he was CBN deputy governor.
“I don’t want you to lose the coming election. That is why I’m following the instructions,” he told him.
Adelabu eventually responded that he could not afford the requested items.
CLERIC REACTS PUBLICLY
Following the disagreement, Ayodele publicly declared that Adelabu had “failed spiritually” and would not become Oyo governor. In video recordings seen by TheCable, he described his earlier warnings as a message from God and dared the minister to “arrest or sue” him.
The DSS has not commented on the petition.
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