By Babatunde Tiamiyu
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has issued a stern warning to Sahara Reporters, demanding the withdrawal of a false publication alleging that the Minister built a luxury mansion within two years of assuming office.
Sahara reporters, an online news platform, in a viral video, claimed Adelabu was enjoying a lavish lifestyle and wealth accumulated through corrupt means, linking the supposed mansion’s completion to recent electricity tariff hikes.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Femi Awogboro, Adelabu described the report as “false, misleading and mischievous, and aimed at damaging my reputation.”
He reiterated that the building project began in November 2021 and was completed in August 2023 one month before his appointment as Minister of Power in September 2023.
The Minister supported his argument with dated photographs, building approvals, and related correspondence. He noted that he is a well-known investor who has invested in real estate, agriculture, and hospitality business, with these projects spread across Ibadan and beyond.
“I started and finished this redevelopment before my ministerial appointment. The recent attention was sparked by a viral video of my hosting of Fuji musician Wasiu Alabi Pasuma after the Ibadan North by-election campaign flag-off,” he said.
He further clarified that the property is a redevelopment of his original residence, built and unveiled in 2010 during his banking career, expanded twelve years later to meet the needs of his political life.
Adelabu accused Sahara Reporters of attempting to discredit him and the administration of President Bola Tinubu, warning that refusal to retract the story could result in legal action.
