By Elvira Jordan
PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, says its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Smith Jaja, did not appear before the Rivers State House of Assembly because the institution had sought judicial protection over what it described as a politically motivated legislative inquiry.
In a public notice signed by the University’s Registrar, Peter I. Akubuiroh, the institution said it had sent an official representative to the Assembly’s ad hoc committee on September 16, 2026, but alleged that the representative was not recognised or allowed to present the University’s letter and supporting documents.
The University said the development followed comments by the Speaker of the House alleging that PAMO had not been transparent in its handling of funds linked to Rivers State Government scholarships and had mismanaged funds meant for scholarship students.
PAMO University, in a statement, rejected the allegations and said it had requested their withdrawal and a public apology, but claimed neither demand was met.
According to the University, the Assembly subsequently constituted an ad hoc committee on September 3 to investigate its relationship with the Rivers State Government.
The institution said it later approached the court after concluding that the process was aimed at embarrassing the institution rather than establishing the facts.
The University said the Rivers Assembly subsequently issued a warrant for the arrest of its Vice Chancellor on September 25, while the court matter was still pending.
On the scholarship scheme, PAMO said the Rivers State Ministry of Education has supervised the programme since its inception and holds the relevant records, agreements and transaction details between the state government and the university.
The institution also maintained that, as a private university, funds are not appropriated directly to it by the Rivers State Government or the House of Assembly.
It explained that government appropriations for the scholarship scheme were made to the Ministry of Education or other relevant government agencies, which then meet the educational expenses of eligible students.
PAMO University added that it has fulfilled its obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding governing the scholarship arrangement.
The University further said it has continued to accommodate about 600 current Rivers State Government scholarship students despite outstanding school-fee payments, claiming that it has borne the cost of their tuition, feeding, accommodation and related expenses for about four months.
According to the institution, the partnership has enabled Rivers students to pursue programmes including Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Pharmacology, Physiology, Anatomy and Biochemistry.
PAMO said its programmes have full accreditation from the relevant regulatory bodies and that students have continued to graduate as scheduled.
The University appealed for the dispute to be resolved without disrupting the education of students benefiting from the state scholarship scheme.
