₦airaland Forum

Last week’s statement by Lagos-based church House on The Rock is very ludicrous, hilarious and a clear assault on the sensibilities of discerning Nigerians. The senior pastor of the church, Paul Adefarasin, was recently invited for questioning by the police over a viral video in which he pointed an object that many believed was a firearm at a content creator who is popular for filming luxury cars and sharing the footage on his platforms. Many Nigerians demanded a probe of the incident, as there was a huge debate on what Adefarasin, who was the convener and host of ‘The Experience’ gospel concert, pointed at the unarmed civilian. While many claimed it was a gun, some said it was torchlight; others said it was a taser.

Adefarasin promised to address the incident during the Sunday service, but rather than do so, the highly respected cleric chose to play the victim. Describing the incident as both hurtful and malicious, he said he felt hurt and shocked when he learnt of the online controversy surrounding the video. While denying that he neither owned a firearm nor pointed any such item at anyone, he attributed the false allegations to “clickbaiters” seeking financial gain. To crown it all, he said his church doesn’t dignify hate speech or false accusations, and with this statement, he considers the matter settled.

He said, “The enticement of the enemy is always the love of money and the root of all evil. What we have had to witness is clickbaiters just looking for more money. I probably wasn’t even their target. Their target was to make more money. And I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm and pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance.”

“The only thing separating me and him was about maybe three-quarters of a metre and glass. I do not have a pistol licence for a firearm. I do not carry a firearm. And I pointed no firearm at anybody. Amen. And it’s our policy not to dignify hate speech or false accusations. We believe that God is bigger than that. And we believe in what is said in Romans 12 and verse 19. And it was unique because it came home on a Saturday when I observe the Sabbath. Because it’s a great time for me. I don’t make a huge law out of Sabbath, but I believe in the principle of Sabbath. And unfortunately, several people called me and sent me many videos. I was shocked".

I’ll be candid with you. I was shocked. I was hurt. I am human. But God is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and is able to first give us succour. And what the enemy means for evil, he works for good. On that note, I will lay that matter to rest.”

Rather than lay the matter to rest, many Gen Z netizens kept asking questions and asking the police to investigate the incident. Yes, agreed, you did not point a firearm at anybody. The question is, what object were you holding? That was the major question the pastor could have addressed while providing clarity on the matter. By not telling Nigerians, the object pointed at the content creator; all your explanations are simply fatuous. It would have been better if the pastor had kept quiet rather than offering an explanation which did not answer the question many demanded an answer to: what object were you holding?

Nigeria’s primary law enforcement agency, the police, decided to step in. The Lagos state police command invited Pastor Adefarasin, and he turned himself in as a law-abiding and responsible citizen. In a statement posted on the police X handle, it said the object seen in the viral video was not a firearm but a stun gun, which is classified as prohibited anti-riot equipment.

The statement said, “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 a 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 church, however, faulted the police statement and even tried to educate the country’s law enforcement agents on what constitutes an offence or not. The full statement by the church’s media department reads, “We are grateful to everyone who has expressed concern following Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s voluntary attendance at the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.

“Pastor Paul was detained for several hours and released without charge. During that time, an official police tweet mislabelled his strobe-light stinger—also known as a stun gun—as “prohibited anti-riot equipment”. Leading Nigerian lawyers advise that this description is incorrect in law. Pastor Paul continues to cooperate fully with the police investigation and is confident that, once the facts are reviewed, he will be exonerated of the allegation arising from the viral video. We hold the police in high esteem and trust they will strive to act courteously and professionally, in the interest of all, while upholding the laws of the land.”

The church said, “Leading Nigerian lawyers advise that a stun gun is not a prohibited anti-riot equipment.” Who are these faceless senior lawyers who know more than our security agents and are trying to educate them? Honestly, we play too much in this country.

Even in an advanced country like the United Kingdom, a stun gun is deemed illegal? To fact-check, I googled, ‘Is a stun gun legal in the UK? The response I got was, “No, stun guns are illegal in the UK. They are classified as prohibited weapons under the Firearms Act 1968 and are considered dangerous due to the high-voltage electricity they discharge. Possession, purchase, or import of stun guns without lawful authority can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.”

Despite the church’s antics, Moshood Jimoh, the Lagos State police commissioner, insisted that Pastor Paul committed an offence the moment he pointed a stun gun at another individual, as his action constituted a violation of the Firearms Act.

By interrogating Pastor Paul, the police have done a great job, and they ought to be commended. Even if he was not detained, the fact that he was summoned and the stun gun recovered has doused the suspense the issue generated, as many Nigerians wanted to know the object the cleric pointed at the harmless content creator whose major offence was filming a car. We are humans, and nobody is immune to making mistakes.

I think Pastor Paul, a man I had tremendous respect for, should submit himself for counselling on anger management. No one is too big to learn. In December 2023, the pastor allegedly smashed the window of a bus driver who hit his car and injured passengers in the bus. Neither the pastor nor the church made any statement on that particular incident.

A laissez-faire country, where people can behave however they want without recourse to the law, is dangerous for all. It doesn’t speak well of the country when foreigners are reading that two distribution companies in Lagos (Ikeja Electric and Eko Disco) were attacked by men in military uniforms, inflicting injuries on civilians doing their lawful duties simply because they were disconnected from having electricity supply over unpaid debt.

As responsible citizens, we should learn to abide by the law at all times. That is how saner climes where we all desire to ‘japa’ work. Many Nigerians who are reckless drivers here and who usually drive without insurance or a licence know they can’t try it in the UK. They know the full weight of the law will be brought on them if caught, no matter their status in society. In January 2023, the immediate Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, was fined for not wearing a seatbelt while sitting at the back of a car. Sunak fully accepted that it was a mistake. He apologised and paid the fine. Who will fine a state governor in Nigeria for not using a seatbelt?

The other day, a former governor who is now a serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was accused of blocking the terminal gate of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), domestic wing in Lagos, after missing his Abuja-bound flight. The airline said he reportedly arrived at the airport by 6:20am for a flight that was to depart by 6:30am. When he was told that his flight had departed, he reportedly blocked the entrance, preventing other passengers from gaining entrance to the terminal. In a saner clime, that will be treated as an act of terrorism, but Nigeria is a country where anything goes. Oshiomhole also justified his action and accused Air Peace of institutional extortion. However, would he have done the same if the incident had happened at Nairobi or Cairo international airports?

https://www.thecable.ng/the-paul-adefarasin-saga-we-play-too-much-in-nigeria/

Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of Daily Independent, writes from the United Kingdom. He can be reached at shabydayo@gmail.com.

Seems you're looking for fame abi? All of you keep jumping on the issue when the Pastor didn't even touch the boy... You even posted your picture 🤣

I can see so many of you will say and do anything for recognition.

really funny. a church trying to teach the police its job

cyberbro:
Seems you're looking for fame abi? All of you keep jumping on the issue when the Pastor didn't even touch the boy... You even posted your picture 🤣

I can see so many of you will say and do anything for recognition.

If the culprit was a yahoo boy would you have said this?

Matthew 23:27-28
27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything
unclean.

28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

You also plays too much, why holding riot defend gun?? Pastor for that matter

Good now a write about the Ak 47 rifles that Fulani openly carry

Georgry:
If the culprit was a yahoo boy would you have said this?

Matthew 23:27-28
27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything
unclean.

28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

What is the man's crime now, tell me... He killed someone or he carried AK47, which one? 🤔

cyberbro:
What is the man's crime now, tell me... He killed someone or he carried AK47, which one? 🤔

No major crime, however, he displayed an anger issue which is a personal thing.
2. He played on the sensibility of Nigerians with his response (preferably he kept quiet)
3. The minor crime is, having and pointing a stun gun at an unarmed person. (Know your laws)

I love his messages. I streamed his messages on Sundays when I don't go to church. Just letting you know, so you don't see every comment as hate.

Well said. I agree with you. Thats exactly what the writer pointed out too

kilmot:
No major crime, however, he displayed an anger issue which is a personal thing.
2. He played on the sensibility of Nigerians with his response (preferably he kept quiet)
3. The minor crime is, having and pointing a stun gun at an unarmed person. (Know your laws)

I love his messages. I streamed his messages on Sundays when I don't go to church. Just letting you know, so you don't see every comment as hate.

kilmot:
No major crime, however, he displayed an anger issue which is a personal thing.
2. He played on the sensibility of Nigerians with his response (preferably he kept quiet)
3. The minor crime is, having and pointing a stun gun at an unarmed person. (Know your laws)

I love his messages. I streamed his messages on Sundays when I don't go to church. Just letting you know, so you don't see every comment as hate.

All the things you listed, nothing was a crime, he didn't even point it at the boy as you mentioned, go and watch the video again.

He's a human being and if he felt threatened by someone recording him, he has a right to warn the person, which was all he did.

Y'all can keep judging and criticizing the man, doesn't change the facts that he did nothing to nobody.

Warn the person with an illegal item? Is your head correct at all?

cyberbro:
All the things you listed, nothing was a crime, he didn't even point it at the boy as you mentioned, go and watch the video again.

He's a human being and if he felt threatened by someone recording him, he has a right to warn the person, which was all he did.

Y'all can keep judging and criticizing the man, doesn't change the facts that he did nothing to nobody.

bolaayenimo:
Warn the person with an illegal item? Is your head correct at all?

Illegal by who? There is no where in the Nigerian constitution where it states that owning a taser is a crime, you're just an illiterate.

Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life and self-defense. A Fulani man can carry a cutlass and walk about, but a law abiding citizen cannot own a taser which is non lethal?

This issue has been clarified before, but the NPF will claim it's illegal, whereas only the court can determine that. The police has NO right to tell you you can't own a taser, but most of you are ignorant of the law.

I won't argue further with you, most of you are one eyed people thinking you see well.

Thescrutinyng:
Last week’s statement by Lagos-based church House on The Rock is very ludicrous, hilarious and a clear assault on the sensibilities of discerning Nigerians. The senior pastor of the church, Paul Adefarasin, was recently invited for questioning by the police over a viral video in which he pointed an object that many believed was a firearm at a content creator who is popular for filming luxury cars and sharing the footage on his platforms. Many Nigerians demanded a probe of the incident, as there was a huge debate on what Adefarasin, who was the convener and host of ‘The Experience’ gospel concert, pointed at the unarmed civilian. While many claimed it was a gun, some said it was torchlight; others said it was a taser.

Adefarasin promised to address the incident during the Sunday service, but rather than do so, the highly respected cleric chose to play the victim. Describing the incident as both hurtful and malicious, he said he felt hurt and shocked when he learnt of the online controversy surrounding the video. While denying that he neither owned a firearm nor pointed any such item at anyone, he attributed the false allegations to “clickbaiters” seeking financial gain. To crown it all, he said his church doesn’t dignify hate speech or false accusations, and with this statement, he considers the matter settled.

He said, “The enticement of the enemy is always the love of money and the root of all evil. What we have had to witness is clickbaiters just looking for more money. I probably wasn’t even their target. Their target was to make more money. And I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm and pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance.”

“The only thing separating me and him was about maybe three-quarters of a metre and glass. I do not have a pistol licence for a firearm. I do not carry a firearm. And I pointed no firearm at anybody. Amen. And it’s our policy not to dignify hate speech or false accusations. We believe that God is bigger than that. And we believe in what is said in Romans 12 and verse 19. And it was unique because it came home on a Saturday when I observe the Sabbath. Because it’s a great time for me. I don’t make a huge law out of Sabbath, but I believe in the principle of Sabbath. And unfortunately, several people called me and sent me many videos. I was shocked".

I’ll be candid with you. I was shocked. I was hurt. I am human. But God is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and is able to first give us succour. And what the enemy means for evil, he works for good. On that note, I will lay that matter to rest.”

Rather than lay the matter to rest, many Gen Z netizens kept asking questions and asking the police to investigate the incident. Yes, agreed, you did not point a firearm at anybody. The question is, what object were you holding? That was the major question the pastor could have addressed while providing clarity on the matter. By not telling Nigerians, the object pointed at the content creator; all your explanations are simply fatuous. It would have been better if the pastor had kept quiet rather than offering an explanation which did not answer the question many demanded an answer to: what object were you holding?

Nigeria’s primary law enforcement agency, the police, decided to step in. The Lagos state police command invited Pastor Adefarasin, and he turned himself in as a law-abiding and responsible citizen. In a statement posted on the police X handle, it said the object seen in the viral video was not a firearm but a stun gun, which is classified as prohibited anti-riot equipment.

The statement said, “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 a 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 church, however, faulted the police statement and even tried to educate the country’s law enforcement agents on what constitutes an offence or not. The full statement by the church’s media department reads, “We are grateful to everyone who has expressed concern following Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s voluntary attendance at the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.

“Pastor Paul was detained for several hours and released without charge. During that time, an official police tweet mislabelled his strobe-light stinger—also known as a stun gun—as “prohibited anti-riot equipment”. Leading Nigerian lawyers advise that this description is incorrect in law. Pastor Paul continues to cooperate fully with the police investigation and is confident that, once the facts are reviewed, he will be exonerated of the allegation arising from the viral video. We hold the police in high esteem and trust they will strive to act courteously and professionally, in the interest of all, while upholding the laws of the land.”

The church said, “Leading Nigerian lawyers advise that a stun gun is not a prohibited anti-riot equipment.” Who are these faceless senior lawyers who know more than our security agents and are trying to educate them? Honestly, we play too much in this country.

Even in an advanced country like the United Kingdom, a stun gun is deemed illegal? To fact-check, I googled, ‘Is a stun gun legal in the UK? The response I got was, “No, stun guns are illegal in the UK. They are classified as prohibited weapons under the Firearms Act 1968 and are considered dangerous due to the high-voltage electricity they discharge. Possession, purchase, or import of stun guns without lawful authority can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.”

Despite the church’s antics, Moshood Jimoh, the Lagos State police commissioner, insisted that Pastor Paul committed an offence the moment he pointed a stun gun at another individual, as his action constituted a violation of the Firearms Act.

By interrogating Pastor Paul, the police have done a great job, and they ought to be commended. Even if he was not detained, the fact that he was summoned and the stun gun recovered has doused the suspense the issue generated, as many Nigerians wanted to know the object the cleric pointed at the harmless content creator whose major offence was filming a car. We are humans, and nobody is immune to making mistakes.

I think Pastor Paul, a man I had tremendous respect for, should submit himself for counselling on anger management. No one is too big to learn. In December 2023, the pastor allegedly smashed the window of a bus driver who hit his car and injured passengers in the bus. Neither the pastor nor the church made any statement on that particular incident.

A laissez-faire country, where people can behave however they want without recourse to the law, is dangerous for all. It doesn’t speak well of the country when foreigners are reading that two distribution companies in Lagos (Ikeja Electric and Eko Disco) were attacked by men in military uniforms, inflicting injuries on civilians doing their lawful duties simply because they were disconnected from having electricity supply over unpaid debt.

As responsible citizens, we should learn to abide by the law at all times. That is how saner climes where we all desire to ‘japa’ work. Many Nigerians who are reckless drivers here and who usually drive without insurance or a licence know they can’t try it in the UK. They know the full weight of the law will be brought on them if caught, no matter their status in society. In January 2023, the immediate Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, was fined for not wearing a seatbelt while sitting at the back of a car. Sunak fully accepted that it was a mistake. He apologised and paid the fine. Who will fine a state governor in Nigeria for not using a seatbelt?

The other day, a former governor who is now a serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was accused of blocking the terminal gate of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), domestic wing in Lagos, after missing his Abuja-bound flight. The airline said he reportedly arrived at the airport by 6:20am for a flight that was to depart by 6:30am. When he was told that his flight had departed, he reportedly blocked the entrance, preventing other passengers from gaining entrance to the terminal. In a saner clime, that will be treated as an act of terrorism, but Nigeria is a country where anything goes. Oshiomhole also justified his action and accused Air Peace of institutional extortion. However, would he have done the same if the incident had happened at Nairobi or Cairo international airports?

https://www.thecable.ng/the-paul-adefarasin-saga-we-play-too-much-in-nigeria/

Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of Daily Independent, writes from the United Kingdom. He can be reached at shabydayo@gmail.com.

The problem is not about the pastor or the police, the problem is about you, but seem not to know you are the problem. Your hatred for anything pastor or Christianity is the one driving you crazy. The pastor has never committed any crime in Nigeria before now, and he did not even kill or shoot the jobless content creator that intruded into somebody privacy without asking for permission. Police have come out to say it was not a firearm, and he honoured police honourable without proving sturbbon or arrogant. What else do you want from a man that his privacy was intruded?

He has contributed to society better than you. If there is no well paying jobs for you to do in UK, it is better to come back to Nigeria to drive one of the tractors that Tinubu just bought for farming. I am sure farming will pay your UK bills better than your present job. If you want him going to jail for pointing non-firearm, what then will be the punishment of people that own firearms illegally or shoot someone? You are not making sense with this scrap, better remove bitterness from your heart

cyberbro:
Seems you're looking for fame abi? All of you keep jumping on the issue when the Pastor didn't even touch the boy... You even posted your picture 🤣

I can see so many of you will say and do anything for recognition.

So a commentary by a journalist is now a bid to chase clout abi? Hmm

Just like he said "We play too much in this country!"

All he is saying is if Adefarasin had just done the right thing by not pulling that stun gun, we won't be having this conversation but this "show yourself" Nigerian spirit that some of you have come to accept as normal has got him where he is using too many words to explain what he pointed at the content creator!

He wasn't threatened in anyway, so why wind down and even point a stun gun at the young man biko? Why?

This is akin to when Oyedepo slapped that girl. To what end? Sometimes I can't wrap my head around the way some people draw unnecessary attention to themselves! And of course that was settled hush hush!

If we can't hold our Pastors to higher standards then we lost the moral right to do same for others.

If i was Pastor Paul, i will make sure i arrest that content creator and lock him behind bars.

Truvelisback:
If i was Pastor Paul, i will make sure i arrest that content creator and lock him behind bars.

If he does that, the same social media judges would accuse him of harboring hatred and unforgiveness against such a little boy. Before you know you go dey hear justice for so so so, every content creator would jump on it for views and attention.

Shey no be the same humans wey crucify Jesus despite him being perfect? Dey play oo. 😐

cyberbro:
If he does that, the same social media judges would accuse him of harboring hatred and unforgiveness against such a little boy. Before you know you go dey hear justice for so so so, every content creator would jump on it for views and attention.

Shey no be the same humans wey crucify Jesus despite him being perfect? Dey play oo.

Social media can say what they like. If i were in Pastor Paul's shoes, i will make sure he is arrested and spend some weeks behind bars before i allowed his release. Being a Christian doesn't mean i will allow anyone to play expensive joke with me.

For committing what offence? You are his church member so you are free to defend him

Truvelisback:
Social media can say what they like. If i were in Pastor Paul's shoes, i will make sure he is arrested and spend some weeks behind bars before i allowed his release. Being a Christian doesn't mean i will allow anyone to play expensive joke with me.

These are modern day slaves defending their masters. Forget them. Only God can open their eyes

shaqhead:
So a commentary by a journalist is now a bid to chase clout abi? Hmm

Just like he said "We play too much in this country!"

All he is saying is if Adefarasin had just done the right thing by not pulling that stun gun, we won't be having this conversation but this "show yourself" Nigerian spirit that some of you have come to accept as normal has got him where he is using too many words to explain what he pointed at the content creator!

He wasn't threatened in anyway, so why wind down and even point a stun gun at the young man biko? Why?

This is akin to when Oyedepo slapped that girl. To what end? Sometimes I can't wrap my head around the way some people draw unnecessary attention to themselves! And of course that was settled hush hush!

If we can't hold our Pastors to higher standards then we lost the moral right to do same for others.

Thescrutinyng:
Last week’s statement by Lagos-based church House on The Rock is very ludicrous, hilarious and a clear assault on the sensibilities of discerning Nigerians. The senior pastor of the church, Paul Adefarasin, was recently invited for questioning by the police over a viral video in which he pointed an object that many believed was a firearm at a content creator who is popular for filming luxury cars and sharing the footage on his platforms. Many Nigerians demanded a probe of the incident, as there was a huge debate on what Adefarasin, who was the convener and host of ‘The Experience’ gospel concert, pointed at the unarmed civilian. While many claimed it was a gun, some said it was torchlight; others said it was a taser.

Adefarasin promised to address the incident during the Sunday service, but rather than do so, the highly respected cleric chose to play the victim. Describing the incident as both hurtful and malicious, he said he felt hurt and shocked when he learnt of the online controversy surrounding the video. While denying that he neither owned a firearm nor pointed any such item at anyone, he attributed the false allegations to “clickbaiters” seeking financial gain. To crown it all, he said his church doesn’t dignify hate speech or false accusations, and with this statement, he considers the matter settled.

He said, “The enticement of the enemy is always the love of money and the root of all evil. What we have had to witness is clickbaiters just looking for more money. I probably wasn’t even their target. Their target was to make more money. And I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm and pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance.”

“The only thing separating me and him was about maybe three-quarters of a metre and glass. I do not have a pistol licence for a firearm. I do not carry a firearm. And I pointed no firearm at anybody. Amen. And it’s our policy not to dignify hate speech or false accusations. We believe that God is bigger than that. And we believe in what is said in Romans 12 and verse 19. And it was unique because it came home on a Saturday when I observe the Sabbath. Because it’s a great time for me. I don’t make a huge law out of Sabbath, but I believe in the principle of Sabbath. And unfortunately, several people called me and sent me many videos. I was shocked".

I’ll be candid with you. I was shocked. I was hurt. I am human. But God is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and is able to first give us succour. And what the enemy means for evil, he works for good. On that note, I will lay that matter to rest.”

Rather than lay the matter to rest, many Gen Z netizens kept asking questions and asking the police to investigate the incident. Yes, agreed, you did not point a firearm at anybody. The question is, what object were you holding? That was the major question the pastor could have addressed while providing clarity on the matter. By not telling Nigerians, the object pointed at the content creator; all your explanations are simply fatuous. It would have been better if the pastor had kept quiet rather than offering an explanation which did not answer the question many demanded an answer to: what object were you holding?

Nigeria’s primary law enforcement agency, the police, decided to step in. The Lagos state police command invited Pastor Adefarasin, and he turned himself in as a law-abiding and responsible citizen. In a statement posted on the police X handle, it said the object seen in the viral video was not a firearm but a stun gun, which is classified as prohibited anti-riot equipment.

The statement said, “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 a 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 church, however, faulted the police statement and even tried to educate the country’s law enforcement agents on what constitutes an offence or not. The full statement by the church’s media department reads, “We are grateful to everyone who has expressed concern following Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s voluntary attendance at the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.

“Pastor Paul was detained for several hours and released without charge. During that time, an official police tweet mislabelled his strobe-light stinger—also known as a stun gun—as “prohibited anti-riot equipment”. Leading Nigerian lawyers advise that this description is incorrect in law. Pastor Paul continues to cooperate fully with the police investigation and is confident that, once the facts are reviewed, he will be exonerated of the allegation arising from the viral video. We hold the police in high esteem and trust they will strive to act courteously and professionally, in the interest of all, while upholding the laws of the land.”

The church said, “Leading Nigerian lawyers advise that a stun gun is not a prohibited anti-riot equipment.” Who are these faceless senior lawyers who know more than our security agents and are trying to educate them? Honestly, we play too much in this country.

Even in an advanced country like the United Kingdom, a stun gun is deemed illegal? To fact-check, I googled, ‘Is a stun gun legal in the UK? The response I got was, “No, stun guns are illegal in the UK. They are classified as prohibited weapons under the Firearms Act 1968 and are considered dangerous due to the high-voltage electricity they discharge. Possession, purchase, or import of stun guns without lawful authority can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.”

Despite the church’s antics, Moshood Jimoh, the Lagos State police commissioner, insisted that Pastor Paul committed an offence the moment he pointed a stun gun at another individual, as his action constituted a violation of the Firearms Act.

By interrogating Pastor Paul, the police have done a great job, and they ought to be commended. Even if he was not detained, the fact that he was summoned and the stun gun recovered has doused the suspense the issue generated, as many Nigerians wanted to know the object the cleric pointed at the harmless content creator whose major offence was filming a car. We are humans, and nobody is immune to making mistakes.

I think Pastor Paul, a man I had tremendous respect for, should submit himself for counselling on anger management. No one is too big to learn. In December 2023, the pastor allegedly smashed the window of a bus driver who hit his car and injured passengers in the bus. Neither the pastor nor the church made any statement on that particular incident.

A laissez-faire country, where people can behave however they want without recourse to the law, is dangerous for all. It doesn’t speak well of the country when foreigners are reading that two distribution companies in Lagos (Ikeja Electric and Eko Disco) were attacked by men in military uniforms, inflicting injuries on civilians doing their lawful duties simply because they were disconnected from having electricity supply over unpaid debt.

As responsible citizens, we should learn to abide by the law at all times. That is how saner climes where we all desire to ‘japa’ work. Many Nigerians who are reckless drivers here and who usually drive without insurance or a licence know they can’t try it in the UK. They know the full weight of the law will be brought on them if caught, no matter their status in society. In January 2023, the immediate Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, was fined for not wearing a seatbelt while sitting at the back of a car. Sunak fully accepted that it was a mistake. He apologised and paid the fine. Who will fine a state governor in Nigeria for not using a seatbelt?

The other day, a former governor who is now a serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, was accused of blocking the terminal gate of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), domestic wing in Lagos, after missing his Abuja-bound flight. The airline said he reportedly arrived at the airport by 6:20am for a flight that was to depart by 6:30am. When he was told that his flight had departed, he reportedly blocked the entrance, preventing other passengers from gaining entrance to the terminal. In a saner clime, that will be treated as an act of terrorism, but Nigeria is a country where anything goes. Oshiomhole also justified his action and accused Air Peace of institutional extortion. However, would he have done the same if the incident had happened at Nairobi or Cairo international airports?

https://www.thecable.ng/the-paul-adefarasin-saga-we-play-too-much-in-nigeria/

Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of Daily Independent, writes from the United Kingdom. He can be reached at shabydayo@gmail.com.

Writer is wrong...a stun gun is not a prohibited item in Nigeria.I Currently own one which I keep in my car.i actually investigated before I purchased to be sure am not breaking d law.our laws doesn't even know of d existence of stun gun as it's a very old archaic law

cyberbro:
Illegal by who? There is no where in the Nigerian constitution where it states that owning a taser is a crime, you're just an illiterate.

Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life and self-defense. A Fulani man can carry a cutlass and walk about, but a law abiding citizen cannot own a taser which is non lethal?

This issue has been clarified before, but the NPF will claim it's illegal, whereas only the court can determine that. The police has NO right to tell you you can't own a taser, but most of you are ignorant of the law.

I won't argue further with you, most of you are one eyed people thinking you see well.

I own one and investigated before purchasing becos it's not mentioned as fire arm or prohibited by Nigerian law

bdon123:
I own one and investigated before purchasing becos it's not mentioned as fire arm or prohibited by Nigerian law

Thank you! Some of these people believe everything the police says is correct, whereas NPF officers, even the high ranking ones are quite ignorant of the law. Same police claiming it's illegal can even decide to arrest you for buying a knife or a cutlass from the market, just to extort you.

American police, as enlightened as they are, still get schooled by people who know the law when they try to bully people.

Pastor Paul Adefarasin committed NO crime, he's just being attacked by social media vultures because he's a pastor.

bolaayenimo:
For committing what offence? You are his church member so you are free to defend him

An offence of expensive joke. Why would you stalk someone's car on a busy road and start using your phone to video him? Someone who barely knows you. It is embarassing. Can he try that with a soldier and get away with it? The Pastor mistook him for a thief or an arm robber. We should call a spade a spade. Or is it because he is a pastor? Common!

Truvelisback:
An offence of expensive joke. Why would you stalk someone's car on a busy road and start using your phone to video him? Someone who barely knows you. It is embarassing. Can he try that with a soldier and get away with it? The Pastor mistook him for a thief or an arm robber. We should call a spade a spade. Or is it because he is a pastor? Common!

Don't mind them. It's easy to judge online when they are not the ones involved. When it concerns a pastor, he must be crucified for reacting like a normal human being. 😒

Keep defending them oo including the one that raped a teenager in Abuja