The Rivers State House of Assembly has constituted a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the funding of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), a private institution founded by former Governor Peter Odili.
Politics Nigeria understands that the move comes amid controversy over the allocation of billions of naira in state funds to the university and questions raised by lawmakers over accountability for previous disbursements.
According to a statement, the committee was constituted by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, pursuant to Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The panel is expected to determine the total amount of money released to PUMS by the Rivers State Government since the university was established in 2017 and establish whether the funds were utilised for the purposes for which they were approved.
It will also investigate the scholarship scheme operated through the institution, including identifying the number and identities of beneficiaries.
The committee is chaired by Dumle Maol, while Silvanus Nwankwo, Lemchi Nyeche, Henrietta Loolo, Peter Abbey, Napoleon Ukalikpe and Emilia Amadi are members.
The panel has been directed to submit its report to the House on or before September 30, 2026.
The latest development follows the Assembly’s earlier rejection of a proposed N6 billion allocation to PUMS in the state budget.
During deliberations, lawmakers questioned the justification for allocating such a substantial amount to a privately owned university, particularly in the absence of what they considered sufficient information on the utilisation of previous funds.
The controversy intensified after a commissioner reportedly wrote to the Assembly seeking an increase in the proposed allocation from N6 billion to N8 billion, arguing that the initial provision was inadequate.
Lawmakers also drew comparisons with Rivers State University, a public institution, which they noted had been allocated N6.1 billion, questioning the rationale for granting a comparable amount to a privately owned university.
Following the concerns, the Assembly resolved that further disbursements to PUMS should be halted pending satisfactory accountability over previous allocations. The proposed N6 billion provision was subsequently stepped down to allow for further scrutiny.
PUMS, however, has strongly rejected allegations of financial impropriety linked to its management of state funds.
Through its counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, the university described the allegations attributed to Amaewhule as “totally false and unfounded” and demanded an immediate retraction and apology.
In a letter to the Speaker, the university maintained that it had never been invited by the Assembly or any other relevant body to account for the scholarship funds allocated to it by the state government.
PUMS said the money was released under the Rivers State Government’s scholarship scheme for indigenes studying at the university and insisted that the funds had been “strictly and judiciously” utilised for their designated purpose.
The institution further denied diverting or mismanaging any of the funds, arguing that the allegations had exposed its management to public embarrassment and damaged the university’s reputation.
Its legal team said the comments could be understood by members of the public as an accusation of fraud and diversion of public funds.
Adedipe consequently demanded that the Speaker withdraw the statements and issue a formal apology within 24 hours of receiving the letter.
The university warned that failure to meet the demands within the stipulated period would result in legal action against the Speaker without further notice.