Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has formally petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, of attempted extortion and blackmail.
The petition, dated October 13, 2025, and signed by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Bolaji Tunji, alleges that the cleric demanded ₦150 million and expensive spiritual items in exchange for “spiritual intercession” to secure Adelabu’s victory in the 2027 Oyo State gubernatorial election.
Adelabu, a former governorship candidate who has declared his intention to run again in 2027, claims that after he refused the demand, Ayodele began issuing false prophecies aimed at reputation.
The minister is urging the DSS to investigate the matter, which he describes as a case of intimidation and financial blackmail. As of press time, efforts to reach Primate Ayodele for comment were unsuccessful.
