The Edo Civil Society Organisation, has faulted the state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro’s declaration that only petitions written by legal practitioners in the state will be entertained by his office.

The CP held a meeting with some persons on Saturday where he made his position known on who has right to petition him in the state, a position that was backed up by a statement of commendation by the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch.

But the Interim Technical Executive Council Chairman, Austin Enabulele, in a press conference in Benin on Saturday, noted during the civil society organisation’s general assembly, that Yaro was wrong, adding that a petition, just like letter writing, is a fundamental human right that anyone is entitled to.

Quoting Section 89(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Chairman said, “A complaint may be made by the complainant in person, or legal practitioner representing him, or by any person authorized on that behalf,” adding that the Command has a responsibility to treat such a petition appropriately.

Enabulele called on the CP to urgently refute the publication made by the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch commending him for making petitions exclusive to legal practitioners, if he truly did not make such pronouncement.

“The publication of the NBA to the effect that, the COMPOL has decided to entertain petitions from only lawyers MUST be refuted or else it becomes accepted as the true position from the COMPOL and we the people shall resist such abuse of public officer in words and actions to save our society from retrogression to the state of nature,” he added.