The Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, has been released on bail after being interrogated by the police over a viral video showing him holding what looked like a gun.
KanyiDaily recalls that a viral video showed Pastor Paul Adefarasin wielding a gun-like object while driving an unregistered vehicle.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed on Tuesday that the House on the Rock founder voluntarily showed up for questioning.
During the session, the cleric gave a formal statement to investigators.
Police clarified that the item seen in the video wasn’t a real gun but a stun gun which is considered prohibited anti-riot equipment, though not classified as a firearm.
They added that the investigation is still ongoing but confirmed that Pastor Adefarasin had been granted bail.
“Pastor Paul Adefarasin, who turned himself in today at the Lagos State Police Command over a viral video where he was seen holding a gun-like object against another road user, was interrogated and he volunteered cautionary statement to the police investigators.
“What was recovered from him, the gun-like object seen in the viral video, is not a lethal weapon or firearm but a stun gun which is a prohibited anti-riot equipment.
“The pastor has been granted bail while investigations continue into the case,” the police said.
The video, which began circulating earlier this month, showed Adefarasin in a Range Rover, lowering his window and engaging a road user while holding a black device, prompting many online to assume it was a gun.
Responding to the backlash on social media, Adefarasin posted on his X (formerly Twitter) page, denying the claims.
“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 wrote.
He also addressed the matter during his Sunday sermon, streamed live on the church’s YouTube channel.
Describing the backlash as “malicious” and “hurtful,” he explained that the object wasn’t a gun, nor did he threaten anyone with it.
“I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm, pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance,” he said.
“The only thing separating him and me was maybe three-quarters of a metre and a glass. I do not have a pistol licence. I do not carry a firearm, and I pointed no firearm at anybody.”
Pastor Adefarasin suggested that the outrage was partly fueled by people looking to cash in on the moment.
“We have witnessed clickbaiters just looking for more money. I probably wasn’t even their target; their target was to make more money,” he told the congregation.
Sharing how the incident affected him personally, the 62-year-old said he was “shocked” and “deeply hurt” when he first learned of the viral clip.
“I am human. But God is touched by our infirmities and can first give us succour. And what the enemy means for evil, He works for good,” he said.
KanyiDaily recalls that Pastor Paul Adefarasin recently blessed a gospel singer identified as Precious with massive financial support of over $5000 during his sermon on Sunday