The Lagos State Police Command has cleared Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, of wrongdoing after a viral video showed him holding what appeared to be a firearm.
In a statement on Wednesday, police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said Adefarasin voluntarily reported to police headquarters in Ikeja for questioning.
Investigations confirmed the object seen in the widely circulated clip was a stun gun, not a lethal weapon. “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,” the police statement said.
The police concluded there were no legal grounds to pursue charges against the pastor. “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,” Adebisi added.
This outcome marks a shift from June, when Lagos Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh had suggested that pointing a stun gun at someone could constitute a criminal offence. He said stun guns are categorized as prohibited riot control equipment and warned that using them to instil fear might amount to an offence under Nigerian law.
The clip, which sparked the controversy, showed Adefarasin seated in a Range Rover during an exchange with another individual while holding the device. The pastor consistently denied ever brandishing a firearm, insisting it was a non-lethal object.
The command emphasized its commitment to transparency and the rule of law while assuring the public of safety. The clearance closes a case that had drawn wide attention and reignited debate about the use of non-lethal weapons in Nigeria.
