Rivers Assembly orders arrest of PAMO VC over N29bn scholarship funds

The Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved to issue a warrant of arrest for the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, following the recommendation of its Ad Hoc Committee investigating scholarship funds released to the university by the state government.

The recommendation was presented to the House on Friday by the Chairman of the Committee, Dumle Maol, after the Vice-Chancellor repeatedly failed to appear before the committee to explain how the funds were spent.

The committee report alleged that PAMO University received more than 29 billion naira from the state government, but that the amount was not matched by the number of students enrolled under the scholarship scheme.

The House also recommended that the state government set up a committee to recover all unaccounted funds in the possession of the university and return the money to the State Consolidated Revenue Account.

A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, on Friday said the House deliberated on the report of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the scholarship funds disbursed to the university.

The statement reads, “Rivers State House of Assembly deliberating on the report of its Ad Hoc Committee on the investigation of scholarship funds to PAMO University of Medical Sciences, which was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday, at the 53rd Legislative Sitting, resolved to issue a warrant of arrest for the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences in line with the recommendation of the Committee.

“The House, among other recommendations, also urged the State Government to set up a committee to recover all unaccounted funds in possession of PAMO University and deposit them in the Consolidated Revenue Account of the State.

“The House resolution came amidst the refusal of the PAMO University VC to appear before the Ad Hoc Committee after several invitations, to explain how money given to the university under the scholarship scheme was expended.

“The Ad Hoc Committee Report chronicled how the university received over 29 billion Naira from the State Government with no corresponding student enrolment, giving credence to the reason behind the Vice-Chancellor’s refusal to honour the invitations.”

Commenting on the report, Speaker, Martin Amaewhule said the scholarship scheme was well-intentioned but its implementation was flawed, adding that documents from the Ministries of Finance and Education, as well as the Office of the Accountant-General, contained conflicting figures and showed that only about five billion naira of the more than 29 billion naira released to PAMO University had been accounted for.

The statement adds, “The Speaker harped on the determination of the Assembly under his leadership to do the right thing irrespective of whose ox is gored.”

The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier this month rejected the N6 billion allocated for scholarships to Rivers indigenes studying at PAMO University of Medical Sciences in the state’s 2026 budget.

PAMO University of Medical Sciences was founded by former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili.

Rivers Assembly orders arrest of PAMO VC over N29bn scholarship funds