The Rivers State House of Assembly resolved on Friday to issue a warrant of arrest for the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical SciencesPAMO University of Medical Sciences. The decision followed the official’s failure to appear before an ad-hoc committee investigating scholarship funds released to the institution.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule presided over the 53rd Legislative Sitting. The House considered the report of the committee. Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, signed a statement confirming the resolution.
Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol chaired the ad-hoc committee. He presented the report to the House. The panel stated that PAMO University received more than N29 billion from the Rivers State Government under the scholarship scheme since 2017.
The committee highlighted discrepancies between the funds released and student enrolment figures. It also noted irregularities in the local government origins of admitted beneficiaries. Lawmakers expressed concern that the state government operated at a loss on the programme.
The House urged the state government to set up a fund recovery committee. It directed the recovery of over N24 billion in unaccounted funds from the total disbursed. In addition, the Assembly recommended the discontinuation of further funding to the private institution.
Lawmakers suggested that such resources should instead support the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Rivers State University. They also resolved that current Rivers State scholarship beneficiaries at PAMO University should complete their studies.
The investigation began after the Assembly earlier removed a proposed N6 billion allocation to the university from the 2026 budget. The committee had issued several invitations to the Vice-Chancellor and relevant state officials. Only some officials appeared.
