The Nigerian Prosthetist, Orthotist and Orthopaedic Technology Society (NPOOTS) has donated prosthetic limbs
to a victim of the 2014 Nyanya bomb blast and one other person to aid mobility and improve their lives.

The National President of NPOOTS, Dr Onwukamuche Chikwado, disclosed this in an interview on the sideline
of the group’s third scientific conference on Friday in Abuja.

Chikwado said the initiative is to ameliorate the sufferings of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) using biomedical engineering tools to provide relief and improve their lives.

He added that the conference was an opportunity for members of the organisation to network, update their knowledge, and practice the skill of online interaction, in line
with global trend and to perform their work efficiently.

He said “we are here to sharpen our skills, improve our knowledge, update ourselves with latest technologies, to appraise our skills and make sure we do the right thing so that we can deliver our best to those that need our services.

“Between the last time we had our conference and now, there has been a lot of technological innovation and advances, so, we intend to position ourselves in a strategic place
to acquire these latest developments so that we can take it back to our different places.”

While emphasising the group’s focus to assist PWDs, he urged government and stakeholders to support them in improving their lives, especially for the less privileged ones in the society.

He said “we are available, and we are telling government that we are ready to contribute our quota as Nigerians to impact positively on the lives of PWDs.

“But our impact might not be fully felt without support from government so that we can reach out to them, discuss ways of impacting on these persons.”

Dr Tochukwu Ugorji, a lecturer at the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, noted new technological innovative methods that replace traditional ways of treating and rehabilitating PWDs.

The lecturer, who spoke on “Modern Techniques in Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice”, said “we have new ways of designing and fabricating prosthetic and orthotic devices that have almost replaced the traditional ways of doing it.

“So, as prosthetic and orthotic practice evolve in Nigeria and globally, new technologies and ways of doing it better keep emerging on a daily basis.

“This conference will offer participants the opportunity to cross breed ideas because we have technical sessions where people will present research works they have done in recent times in this field.”

Mr Aharanwa Francis-Obinna, the National Secretary, NPOOTS, said: `we select people who are eager to walk but lack the financial will to get themselves rehabilitated and that is why we stepped in at zero cost.”

Sanusi Usman, a beneficiary from Katsina State, said his legs were amputated due to injuries sustained during the bomb blast at the Nyanya bridge in Abuja in 2014.

He said “I am a victim of the Nyanya bomb blast of 2014. I am so happy and I appreciate the organisation for giving me the prosthetic limb as it will enable me to move around and source for my livelihood.”

Another beneficiary, Christopher Iliya, also thanked the association, adding that the prosthetic limbs would ease his movement and make him less dependent on others.

He said “I lost my limbs after an accident in 2009; my Church gave me prosthetic limbs but I outgrew it. I really appreciate the opportunity of having another one,
which will ease my movement.”(NAN)

The Yobe Police Command has denied the report in an online media platform alleging that two of its personnel were involved in Potiskum robbery.

In a statement by the command’s Spokesman, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, in Damaturu on Friday, the command also denied shielding the accused policemen and disrupting court proceeding.

He described the report published on November 7, with the title, “Police disrupt court proceeding, take out colleagues accused of robbery in Yobe” as “misleading and malicious.

“No police personnel invaded any magistrate’s court to free arraigned accused.

“We have no record of robbery incidents involving police personnel in Potiskum or any local government area in the state.

“To set the records straight, on February 23, at 1630hrs, an accident occurred at Zangon Alhazai area of Potiskum, involving a truck and a motorcycle.

“ASC Abubakar Umar of the Nigerian Correctional Service solicited bail for the driver, which was granted.

“However, police refused to release the vehicle as the victim was still receiving treatment, while still investigating reckless and dangerous driving.

“This led to a fracas, resulting in Umar’s arrest for obstruction,” Abdulkarim said.

The Area Commander, exercising procedural diligence, directed the personnel to return to the station as the case involved enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights, a high-calibre matter beyond the magistrate’s jurisdiction.

“At no point did police personnel invade the court or forcibly retrieve colleagues,” he said.

He urged the newspaper in question to retract the report immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the command or face legal action.

The state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had earlier requested the Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Ahmed, to investigate and prosecute the area commander.

Its Chairperson, Mrs Altine Ibrahim, The union also demanded the police to obey court order and return the personnel in question to the Medium Correctional Centre, Potiskum.

She described the police’s action as an “unacceptable invasion of the court,” saying that “nobody is above the law.” (NAN)

The Cross River’s Chapter of  Magistrates Association of Nigeria, on has issued a seven- day ultimatum to the state government to effect promotion of its stagnated members or face strike.

In a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Calaba on Wednesday , signed  by Godwin Onah and Solomon Abuo,, President and Secretary, the association said some Magistrates had been stagnated  since 2015.

The association  also  said the N15,000 monthly  impress to magistrates in the state  was  meagre when compared with their colleagues in  other states that receive between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly.

The Magistrates were also demanding for the rehabilitation of magistrate courts across the state and  none provision of official vehicles to it members,

The Magistrates, however,  decried what they described as the state’s government inability to pay  yearly robing allowances to its members  as applicable nationwide.

” To protect the welfare of members, uphold minimum standards  and sanctity of the magistrates in  the state, we need  immediate action on our demands.

“Magistrates are seen daily on  public or commercial vehicles, most times alongside litigants and criminal suspects  standing trial before them, this  is a security risk to their lives.

“This will leave Magistrates with no other option but to embark on a warning industrial action for two weeks in line with the extant labour laws effective from Wednesday, November 13.

“All services will be withdrawn from Wednesday, thereafter proceed on an indefinite strike if the government fails to implement their demands,’’ they said. (NAN)g)