The Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved to issue a warrant of arrest for the Vice Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences over his alleged refusal to appear before the House committee investigating the disbursement of scholarship funds to the institution.
The resolution was reached on Friday during the Assembly’s 53rd Legislative Sitting, following consideration of the report of its Ad Hoc Committee on the investigation of scholarship funds allocated to PAMO University.
The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol.
According to the House, the Vice Chancellor failed to honour several invitations to appear before the committee and explain how funds released to the university under the state’s scholarship scheme were expended.
The Assembly also urged the Rivers State Government to constitute a committee to recover all funds allegedly unaccounted for by PAMO University and pay the recovered funds into the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account.
The committee’s report, as presented to the House, stated that PAMO University had received more than N29 billion from the Rivers State Government under the scholarship arrangement, but alleged that the funds were not matched by corresponding student enrolment figures.
Speaking during the consideration of the report, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, said the government’s intention in entering into the scholarship agreement was commendable but expressed concern over what he described as problems with its implementation.
Amaewhule also raised concerns over discrepancies among documents presented by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant-General of the State.
The Speaker said the documents indicated that, of the more than N29 billion released to PAMO University, only about N5 billion had been utilised.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s resolve to discharge its constitutional responsibilities, regardless of the individuals or institutions involved.
“No individual can be bigger than the House as an institution empowered by the Constitution,” the Speaker was quoted as saying.
The House’s resolution followed the committee’s findings and recommendations concerning the administration and utilisation of funds under the state’s scholarship arrangement with PAMO University.
The statement was signed by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday, September 25, 2026.
— END —
