The Rivers State House of Assembly has constituted a
seven-member Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate funds released by the state
government to PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) since the institution
was established in 2017.
The committee was constituted by the Speaker of the
House, Martin Amaewhule, pursuant to Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as
amended.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the
House Committee on Information, Enemi Alabo George, the committee will
determine the total amount of public funds provided to the university and
establish whether the money was properly utilised for the purposes for which it
was released.
The lawmakers will also investigate the university’s
scholarship programme and determine the number and identities of Rivers State
indigenes who may have benefited from the scheme.
PAMO University of Medical Sciences, located in Port
Harcourt, was established in 2017 by former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter
Odili. The institution is a private medical university.
The investigation comes after the House declined to
approve the ?6 billion earmarked for PAMO University in the state’s 2026
budget. Part of the proposed allocation was instead redirected towards the
renovation of health facilities across Rivers State.
The seven-member committee is chaired by Dumle Maol,
with Silvanus Nwankwo, Lemchi Nyeche, Henrietta Loolo, Peter Abbey, Napoleon
Ukalikpe and Emilia Amadi serving as members.
The committee is expected to submit its findings and
recommendations to the House on or before September 30, 2026.
Meanwhile, PAMO University, through its legal counsel,
has rejected allegations of financial opacity.
The institution maintained that it has always been
open to accountability, insisting that funds received from the Rivers State
Government were used strictly for the sponsorship and medical education of
Rivers State indigenes.
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