The Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered the arrest of the Vice Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences over his alleged refusal to appear before an investigative committee probing the utilisation of more than N29 billion released to the institution under the state government’s scholarship scheme.
The resolution was reached on Friday September 25, 2026 during the Assembly’s 53rd Legislative Sitting, following consideration of the report of its Adhoc Committee on the investigation of scholarship funds allocated to PAMO University.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Dumle Maol, said the university’s Vice Chancellor failed to honour several invitations to appear before the committee and explain how the funds released under the scholarship arrangement were utilised.
Consequently, the House adopted the committee’s recommendation for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the Vice Chancellor. The Assembly also urged the Rivers State Government to constitute a committee to recover all unaccounted funds allegedly in the possession of PAMO University and return the money to the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account.
The committee’s report stated that PAMO University had received more than N29 billion from the state government under the scholarship scheme, with the committee raising concerns over the absence of corresponding student enrolment.
The Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, said the government’s decision to enter into the scholarship agreement was well-intentioned, but expressed concern over what he described as problems with its implementation. Amaewhule particularly frowned at discrepancies among documents submitted by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant-General of the State.
According to the Speaker, a review of the figures indicated that out of the more than N29 billion released by the state government to PAMO University, only about N5 billion appeared to have been utilised. He said the development required the attention of the Assembly, stressing that the legislature would continue to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
Amaewhule further declared that the Assembly under his leadership would remain committed to doing what is right, irrespective of whose interests might be affected. He stressed that no individual was bigger than the Rivers State House of Assembly, which, he said, was an institution empowered by the Constitution.
The House’s resolutions followed its consideration and adoption of the findings and recommendations contained in the Adhoc Committee’s report on the scholarship funds released to PAMO University of Medical Sciences.
