‘N150m Can’t Buy My Shoe’ — Primate Ayodele Fires Back at Adelabu Over Extortion Claim
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has dismissed allegations that he attempts to extort N150 million from the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, declaring that the amount “cannot even buy my shoe.”
OTN News firther reports that the outspoken cleric makes the remarks on Sunday during a church service at INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Oke Afa, Lagos, while reacting to reports that Mr Adelabu petitions the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing him of blackmail and attempted extortion.
Mr Adelabu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and two-time governorship candidate in Oyo State, alleges that Primate Ayodele demands N150 million for “spiritual intercession” to help him become governor.
The minister, who has declared his intention to contest the Oyo governorship election again in 2027, claims the cleric also asks for 1,000 pieces of saxophones or trumpets.
According to the petition, the minister alleges that the least expensive, fairly used Nigerian-grade instruments would cost about N50 million, while imported grade-one versions from China would amount to N130 million. Adelabu further claims that his refusal to meet the alleged demands prompts Primate Ayodele to issue negative prophecies aimed at damaging his reputation and political ambition.
However, Primate Ayodele strongly denies the accusations. In a statement issued on Saturday, the cleric insists that he does not attempt to extort the minister, arguing instead that Adelabu approaches him “in desperation” and expresses willingness to do anything to become governor of Oyo State.
Addressing his congregation on Sunday, the cleric describes the power minister as “a boy” who “doesn’t understand what he is saying,” while ridiculing the N150 million figure cited in the petition.
“The shoe I wear, can N150 million buy it?” Ayodele asks rhetorically. “Can N150 million buy my car? Leave that person alone. He is a small boy. He knows he has lost; that is why he is pained.”
The INRI leader insists that his prophecies are not motivated by money or political patronage, stressing that he does not invite politicians to seek spiritual counsel from him.
“I am not doing prophecies to impress you or invite you to me,” he says. “I don’t do prophecies for you to come and do enquiries. Take it, or you leave it.”
Ayodele further maintains that he would openly admit if he had collected money from anyone, adding that no such transaction ever takes place between him and the minister.
“If I collected money, I would openly say I collected money. But I did not collect money, and I did not invite him,” the cleric says. “I can only disappoint you when you are not a good person. I carry something bigger than me.”
OTN News however, observes that as the controversy unfolds, neither the DSS nor the power ministry issues an official statement clarifying the status of the petition, while the public exchange between the cleric and the minister continues to draw widespread attention.
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