Minister Adelabu Petitions DSS Over Primate Ayodele’s Alleged N150m ‘Spiritual Intercession’ Demand

Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has accused Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, of attempting to extort N150m from him under the guise of “spiritual intercession” to secure his victory in the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.

In a petition dated October 13, 2025, signed by Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu’s special adviser on strategic communications and media relations, and addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the minister alleged that Ayodele made false prophecies aimed at tarnishing his reputation after he rejected the cleric’s demands for large sums of money and costly spiritual items.

According to text messages reviewed by TheCable newspaper, Ayodele asked Adelabu to provide 24 APC flags for prayers and demanded 1,000 saxophones or trumpets. The messages indicated that the cheapest Nigerian used grade would cost N50 million, while imported grade-one instruments from China would total N130 million.

The cleric initially set a deadline of April 1, later extending it to April 4, saying, “Sir, I don’t do this, but because of the love I have for you.”

Ayodele also claimed he had sent multiple letters during Adelabu’s tenure as CBN deputy governor and at other times while the minister was in Ibadan, but received no response. He further asked Adelabu to “recite almu nasira 200 times,” referring to Alam Nashrah in the 94th chapter of the Quran, a prayer invoking divine support, relief from hardship, and spiritual expansion.

According to the texts, Ayodele insisted all his instructions came from God and that Adelabu would eventually govern Oyo State.

“I have divine advice for you sir, which can help a lot sir, kindly pick my call,” one message read.

“Do vigil and the angel of God is coming to hear request by 1am…I don’t want you to lose the coming election. That is why I’m following the instructions.”

When Adelabu explained that he could not afford the expensive items, Ayodele allegedly became critical. Speaking later in his church, the cleric said Adelabu had failed and would not become governor.

In a video clip, Ayodele called out the minister’s mistakes and warned that his message was “a warning from God.” He even challenged the minister to arrest or sue him.

In the DSS petition, Adelabu requested an investigation into Ayodele’s activities and demanded that he retract the “false prophecies” and apologise.

“I write to formally draw the attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the extortive, deceitful, and inciting activities of one self-acclaimed pastor known as Primate Elijah Ayodele, of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, whose actions have become not only personally distressing to the Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, but also capable of disturbing public peace and undermining the integrity of the political process in Oyo State,” the petition reads.

It further alleged that Ayodele had repeatedly approached the minister with “unsolicited offers of ‘spiritual intercession’ purportedly to guarantee electoral success,” demanding sums and items exceeding N150 million. The petition emphasised that Adelabu consistently declined these offers, maintaining that his political ambition was motivated by public service rather than “spiritual manipulation or fetish practice.”

The petition also warned that Ayodele’s continued “malicious and false prophecies” could threaten public order and democratic confidence, urging the DSS to investigate, compel a retraction and apology, and take legal action to deter similar practices.

Adelabu also petitioned the Oyo State Police Commissioner regarding Ayodele’s alleged extortive and inciting conduct.

However, in a phone interview with TheCable, Ayodele denied the allegations, asserting that Adelabu had approached him first through emissaries.

“I didn’t blackmail him. We didn’t have any transaction. Again, no money was exchanged between us,” the cleric said.

“I discussed some terms with him, which he didn’t agree with. I didn’t make any attempt to extort him. I can sell my services for any amount. I can value it at N1 billion as much as I provide the value he wants. It’s nobody’s business. Why did you come to me in the first place if you didn’t believe in me? What are you doing with someone you claim is dishing out fake prophesies? He should say anything he likes.

“I’m big. I’m not poor. I take care of vulnerable people. I’m blessed in the Lord,” he said.