Lawyer condemns Police Orderly Room Trial

An Ilorin-based human rights activist, Mr Deji Gbadeyan, says the adoption of orderly room trial by the
Police to try erring police officers, violates the fundamental human rights of the officers.

Gbadeyan who spoke in an interview on Monday in Ilorin, said it "violates the principle of natural justice.’’

He said that Police Orderly Room Trial (PORT) as disciplinary organ of the Police denied accused persons the right to fair hearing and legal representation.

The lawyer said the method and practice of the disciplinary measures, conferred absolute power of being the accuser and the judge on the Inspector General of Police on matters affecting policemen.

“Orderly Room Trial is a mere domestic practice in the Police, that violates and contravenes the purposeful effect of fair hearing provision under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

“It is also a contravention of the common law principle of natural justice that prescribed that no man should be a judge in his own court,” he added.

According to him, the accused person should be given every opportunity to defend his case. Gbadeyan said provision of legal representation in matters particularly bothering on crime was sacrosanct and which was not provided for in PORT.

He said that police officers, like other public servants should be presumed innocent when facing any trial until contrary was proved before a competent court of law.