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 is expected to determine the total amount of funds released to the university by the Rivers State Government and ascertain whether the money was utilised for the purposes for which it was provided.
The committee will also investigate the university’s scholarship programme, including the number and identities of beneficiaries, where applicable, among other issues.
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 probe comes after the House declined to approve the ₦6 billion allocated to PAMO University in the state’s 2026 budget, with part of the proposed funds subsequently redirected towards the renovation of health facilities across the state.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the House on or before September 30, 2026.
PAMO University, however, has rejected allegations of financial opacity through its legal counsel, insisting that the institution has always remained committed to accountability.
The university maintained that all funds it received from the Rivers State Government were strictly deployed towards sponsoring and providing medical education for indigenes of the state.
