Rivers Assembly Threatens Arrest of Fubara’s Commissioners Over PAMO University Probe
The Rivers State House of Assembly has threatened to issue warrants of arrest against officials of the state government and the management of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, PUMS, over their failure to appear before a committee investigating funds released to the institution.
The warning was issued on Wednesday by the ad-hoc committee constituted to investigate the financial relationship between the Rivers State Government and PAMO University.
The committee is chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Dumle Maol, and is examining funds released to the university from 2017 to date, including money reportedly provided for scholarship programmes for indigenes of Rivers State.
At its latest sitting in Port Harcourt, the committee expressed concern over the absence of some officials summoned to provide explanations and documents concerning the funds.
Those invited included the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University, the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, the Accountant-General of the state, the Commissioner for Education and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
However, the Vice-Chancellor, Commissioner for Finance and Accountant-General failed to appear before the committee.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Peter Nwagor, attended the sitting and responded to questions from members of the House.
Following the development, Maol directed the officials who failed to attend to appear before the committee on Thursday, September 24.
He warned that the Assembly could invoke its constitutional powers to compel their attendance if they fail to honour the fresh invitation.
The committee chairman said the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution would be relied upon where necessary, including the possibility of issuing warrants of arrest.
The warning also applies to the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University, who was absent from the hearing.
Maol expressed disappointment over the failure of the officials to appear despite having been formally invited by the House.
The investigation is focused on how funds released by the Rivers State Government to PAMO University were disbursed and utilised.
A key aspect of the probe is the scholarship programme reportedly funded by the state government for Rivers indigenes studying at the institution.
The Assembly wants to establish the total amount released over the years, determine how the funds were spent and ascertain whether they were used for the purposes for which they were allocated.
Lawmakers are also seeking details of the beneficiaries of the scholarship programme.
The investigation followed questions raised by the Assembly over a proposed allocation of billions of naira to PAMO University in the Rivers State budget.
The House had earlier removed more than N6 billion earmarked for PAMO University from the 2026 budget before the appropriation law was passed.
The decision became another point of contention amid the wider disagreement between the Rivers State legislature and executive over public spending.
The Assembly subsequently constituted the ad-hoc committee to investigate the funding of PAMO University from 2017.
The seven-member committee was established under Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Its terms of reference include determining the total amount of money released by the Rivers State Government to PAMO University since its establishment.
The committee is also expected to determine whether the funds were properly utilised and establish the number and identities of beneficiaries under the scholarship scheme.
The Assembly had previously summoned the relevant officials after raising questions about the management and utilisation of the funds.
The latest sitting has consequently increased pressure on those who failed to appear before the lawmakers.
The September 24 hearing is expected to give the committee another opportunity to obtain the documents and explanations required to complete its investigation.
Maol said the committee would not abandon the exercise because some of the invited officials failed to attend.
The lawmakers have maintained that the investigation is intended to ensure accountability for public funds released to the university.
The committee is also working within a defined timeline, as it is expected to submit its report to the House on or before September 30, 2026.
The House had previously stated that all parties involved would be given an opportunity to provide explanations and relevant information.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule had directed the committee to conduct the investigation diligently and ensure that the necessary parties were given a fair hearing.
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PAMO University was founded by former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, who also serves as its Pro-Chancellor.
The institution has received funding from the Rivers State Government over the years, including support linked to scholarship arrangements for Rivers indigenes.
The House is now seeking to establish the details of the financial transactions involving the university throughout the period under investigation.
