Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church Primate Elijah Ayodele has rejected allegations that he attempted to extort N150 million from the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, saying the amount cannot buy his shoe.
Primate Ayodele spoke on Sunday during a church service in Lagos, reacting to a petition written by Minister Adelabu to the Department of State Services accusing the cleric of blackmail and extortion linked to the Oyo State governorship race.
The minister had alleged that Ayodele demanded N150 million and other items, including 1,000 trumpets or saxophones, as part of what he described as a request for spiritual intercession to support his political ambition.
Adelabu claimed that his refusal to meet the demands led the cleric to issue prophecies against him.
Responding during the service, Ayodele dismissed the claims and said the minister was aggrieved because he would not succeed in another attempt to become governor.
“The shoe I wear, can N150 million buy it?” Ayodele said.
He also described Adelabu as someone who does not understand what he is saying and insisted that he does not issue prophecies to seek favour or money.
“I can’t disappoint you. I can only disappoint you when you are not a good person. I carry something bigger than me,” he said.
“I am not doing prophecies to impress you or invite you to me. I don’t do prophecies for you to come and do enquiries. Take it, or you leave it.”
Adelabu had earlier accused the cleric of demanding musical instruments valued between N50 million for locally sourced items and N130 million for imported ones from China.
He said the demands were part of repeated attempts to pressure him and that the matter had been reported to security agencies.
Elijah Ayodele has denied demanding money or blackmailing the minister.
He maintains that he does not exchange prophecies for material benefits and that any items discussed were not conditions for spiritual support.
