The Lagos State Police Command has discontinued its case against House on the Rock Church senior pastor, Paul Adefarasin, after confirming that the object he was seen holding in a viral video was a stun gun and not a firearm.
Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that Pastor Adefarasin had voluntarily reported to the command headquarters in Ikeja, where he was interrogated and gave a cautionary statement.
“After a thorough investigation, including interrogation and a cautionary statement from Pastor Adefarasin, it was established that the object in question was a stun gun and not a lethal weapon or firearm. Consequent to our findings, the Lagos State Police Command has determined that there are no sufficient grounds to proceed with the matter. The case is hereby discontinued,” the statement read.
The video, which surfaced in June, showed Adefarasin inside a Range Rover holding an object that many mistook for a pistol during an exchange with another road user.
Following the clip’s circulation, the cleric strongly denied the allegations. On his X handle, he wrote:
“You might be aware of a video which has been circulating on social media showing me in what some have misunderstood as brandishing a firearm. I want to assure you of this, that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone.”
He also addressed the controversy during a church service streamed on YouTube, insisting:
“I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm, pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance. I do not have a pistol licence. I do not carry a firearm, and I pointed no firearm at anybody.”
Earlier, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh had clarified that pointing a stun gun at someone could constitute an offence under Nigerian law.
However, with Wednesday’s announcement, the police confirmed the matter has been officially closed.
