Adefarasin: Brandishing Stun Gun, Issuing Threats Constitute an Offence,.Says Lagos CP

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh has declared that brandishing a stun gun to intimidate or instill fear in another person is considered an offence under the law.

Jimoh shared this information on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while providing an update on the case concerning the Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, who was recently granted bail after being questioned about a gun-like object found in his possession in a widely circulated video.

“An act is deemed an offence only if the law explicitly defines it as such. Under the Fire Arms Act, if you craft something that isn’t metal, such as wood, to resemble a gun and use it to unlawfully acquire property from another, you have committed armed robbery. Therefore, pointing a stun gun at another person and instilling fear at that moment constitutes an offence. The police are adhering strictly to the law,” he stated.

Jimoh emphasized that the object recovered from the pastor was indeed a stun gun, not a lethal weapon.

He further noted that the stun gun is classified as prohibited riot gear under the law.

“He was formally invited; an invitation letter was dispatched to him. We had even prepared an arrest warrant in case he declined the invitation. However, he voluntarily surrendered and was interrogated by a team of investigators already handling the case prior to his surrender.

“The case remains under thorough investigation. As the PPRO has informed the public, the recovered item was a stun gun, not a lethal weapon, but it is classified as prohibited riot equipment, which is under scrutiny. We further questioned him about his reason for pointing it at another individual,” he explained.

The police commissioner further mentioned that the individual targeted by the object would also be summoned to provide a statement regarding the incident that gained traction on social media.

“It has also emerged on social media that the person targeted is a content creator, and we will obtain a statement from him once he reaches us, as we have his address and intend to secure his statement in this matter.

“Thus, the pastor remains under investigation, although he has been granted bail. We will continue the investigation and disclose its findings to the public for all Nigerians to be informed,” he added.

Adefarasin was released on bail by the police on Wednesday after he voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday following the incident.

According to the authorities, Adefarasin was interrogated and provided a cautionary statement to the police investigators.

The video, which emerged earlier this month, depicted the prominent pastor driving a Range Rover, lowering his window, and interacting with a road user while holding a black, unidentified object.

The footage triggered widespread speculation online, with many suggesting the object resembled a firearm.

In response, Pastor Adefarasin addressed the allegations on his official X handle.

“You may be aware of a video circulating on social media portraying me in what some have misconstrued as brandishing a firearm. I want to reassure you — that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone,” he wrote.

During last Sunday’s service, streamed live on the church’s YouTube channel, he reiterated his stance, describing the public reaction as both “hurtful” and “malicious.”

“I was falsely accused of possessing a firearm and pointing it at an aggressive content creator who encroached upon my personal space,” he stated. “The only barrier between him and me was perhaps three-quarters of a meter and a glass. I do not possess a pistol license. I do not carry a firearm, and I did not point a firearm at anyone.”

Elaborating further, he remarked, “We have witnessed clickbaiters merely seeking to generate more revenue. I likely wasn’t their primary target; their aim was to earn more money,” he conveyed to the congregation.

Reflecting on the impact of the ordeal, the 62-year-old cleric confessed to feeling “shocked” and “hurt” upon learning of the viral video.

“I am human. But God empathizes with our weaknesses and can offer solace. What the adversary intends for harm, He transforms for good,” he concluded.