Lagos Prophet trying to extort N150m from me – Tinubu’s Minister petitions DSS

The Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has formally petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Oke Afa, Lagos, of attempting to extort N150 million under the pretext of providing “spiritual intercession” to support Adelabu’s bid for the 2027 Oyo State governorship.

Adelabu, a former governorship candidate who has already declared his interest in the 2027 race, alleged that Ayodele turned to malicious prophecies and public character attacks after he refused the cleric’s demands.

In the petition, dated October 13, 2025, and signed by Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, it was claimed that the cleric repeatedly pressured the minister for large sums of money and expensive spiritual items, which were presented as prerequisites for divine favour, totaling over N150 million.

Tunji stated, “Under this guise, he had on several occasions demanded huge sums of money and expensive spiritual items, cumulatively amounting to over N150 million, as purported prerequisites for divine favour.” He added that the minister declined all requests, maintaining that his political ambition is motivated by genuine service, not spiritual manipulation.

According to the petition, Primate Ayodele has since launched a campaign of false prophecies and statements aimed at discrediting Adelabu, including claims that “God told him Adelabu will not win the election,” and assertions that his use of the ‘Èmi Lòkan’ slogan (“It’s my turn”) would lead to political failure.

The petition further noted that, as a government minister, Adelabu had initially chosen to ignore the cleric’s actions to avoid public confrontation. However, the continued spread of these allegedly retaliatory prophecies is now viewed as a threat to his personal reputation, public confidence, and the integrity of the democratic process.

The letter read, “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, Adebayo Adelabu, but also capable of disturbing public peace and undermining the integrity of the political process in Oyo State.

“Since his tenure as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and particularly in the period leading up to his current aspiration to serve as the Governor of Oyo State, this individual had persistently approached him with unsolicited offers of “spiritual intercession” purportedly to guarantee electoral success.”

Continuing, Tunji said, ” I therefore urge the Department of State Services to kindly investigate the activities of the said Pastor Ayodele for extortion, blackmail, and deliberate dissemination of false and inciting information; compel him to retract his false prophecies and issue a formal written apology; and bring him under the force of the law, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Criminal Code, to deter similar fraudulent religious practices in future.

“We are in possession of documentary evidence, including recordings and message exchanges, which clearly show his repeated demands for money and other items under the guise of spiritual assistance. We will willingly make these available to your office for the purpose of investigation.

“I trust that the DSS, as a key institution for national security and public integrity, will handle this matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.”

Reacting to the allegations made by Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu, Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has denied attempting to extort N150 million from the minister over his political ambitions.

In a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele said the discussion about the cost of musical instruments arose only after Adelabu inquired about them. He clarified that he merely advised the minister to send someone to the market to confirm prices, accompanied by a representative from his church.

Ayodele further explained that while he mentioned the challenges Adelabu might face in securing the governorship ticket, his suggestion to purchase the instruments was framed as a way to “seek the mercy of God,” and was “not necessarily for my church,” he emphasised.

Ayodele 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 was to get the trumpets for his own good.

“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.

“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,” he said.

”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.”