BREAKING: Rivers Assembly Sets Up Committee to Probe ₦6bn Dispute With PAMO University

 The Rivers State House of Assembly has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the disbursement of funds by the Rivers State Government to PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), amid an emerging legal dispute in which the university is seeking ₦6 billion in compensation from the Assembly.

The development was contained in a press release issued by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which said the committee was constituted pursuant to Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The committee, constituted by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS, is expected to investigate the amount of money received by PAMO University from the Rivers State Government since the institution’s establishment in 2017.

It will also determine whether the funds were properly utilised for the purposes for which they were released and ascertain the number and identities of beneficiaries of any scholarship scheme operated by the university.

The seven-member committee is chaired by Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, while Hon. Silvanus Nwankwo, Hon. Lemchi Nyeche, Hon. Henrietta Loolo, Hon. Peter Abbey, Hon. Napoleon Ukalikpe and Hon. Emilia Amadi are members.

According to the Assembly, the committee is expected to submit its report to the House on or before September 30, 2026.

The latest development comes against the backdrop of a legal dispute between PAMO University and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

PAMO University had earlier reportedly served a pre-action notice on the Rivers State House of Assembly, demanding ₦6 billion in compensation over issues connected to the dispute.

The pre-action notice is understood to have preceded any potential legal action, with the university seeking compensation before commencing further proceedings.

The Assembly’s decision to launch an inquiry into the funding of the university could therefore add a new dimension to the dispute, as lawmakers move to establish the financial history and utilisation of funds allocated to the institution since its inception.

The committee’s findings are expected to provide the House with a detailed account of the funds released to PAMO University and how such funds were applied.

The development is likely to attract further attention as both the ₦6 billion compensation demand and the Assembly’s investigation progress.