Rivers State House of Assembly has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate funds released by the state government to PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) since its establishment in 2017.
The committee was constituted by the Speaker of the House, Mr Martin Amaewhule, pursuant to Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Mr Enemi Alabo George, said the committee would determine the total amount of money provided by the Rivers State Government to the university.
It would also establish whether the funds were properly utilised for the purposes for which they were released.
The committee is expected to determine the number and identities of beneficiaries of the university’s scholarship scheme, if any, among other issues.
The seven-member committee is chaired by Mr Dumle Maol, while its members are Mr Silvanus Nwankwo, Mr Lemchi Nyeche, Mrs Henrietta Loolo, Mr Peter Abbey, Mr Napoleon Ukalikpe and Mrs Emilia Amadi.
The inquiry comes against the backdrop of the House’s decision not to approve the N6 billion allocation to PAMO University in the state’s 2026 budget.
The House had instead redirected part of the proposed allocation to the renovation of health facilities across the state.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the House on or before Sept. 30, 2026.
PAMO University of Medical Sciences is a private medical university in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, founded in 2017 by former Rivers Governor, Dr Peter Odili.
The institution was established as Nigeria’s first private medical university.
However, the university, through its legal counsel, rejected allegations of financial opacity.
It said the institution had never shied away from accountability and that all funds received from the state government were deployed strictly towards the sponsorship and medical education of Rivers indigenes.
