Education:
Rivers Budget: PAMO University Threatens Legal Action Over Alleged Defamatory Comments
PAMO University said it had never been invited by the Rivers State House of Assembly or any other body to defend the funds made available to it by the Rivers State Government.
FILE PHOTO: A classroom at PAMO university. Credit: PAMO University of Medical Sciences
PAMO University of Medical Sciences, a private institution founded by former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State, has demanded the immediate retraction and apology over what it described as “malicious and defamatory” comments allegedly made by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, concerning the university.
The demand is contained in a letter dated Thursday, September 3, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, by the university’s lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN) of Adedipe and Adedipe Legal Practitioners.
The solicitor said their client was embarrassed, maligned and defamed by statements made by the Speaker during the presentation of the 2026 Rivers State Appropriation Bill for the Governor’s assent at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
According to the lawyer, the Speaker had said that the House Committee had considered a proposal of ₦6 billion for PAMO University of Medical Sciences but raised concerns over the university’s transparency in managing funds allocated to it over the years, saying the state could not ascertain how taxpayers’ money given to the institution had been utilised.
The lawyer also listed as part of the Speaker’s alleged statements that the university was invited by the House Committee but failed to appear and that it did not present any records or reports to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, the university, through the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, rejected the allegations as “totally false and unfounded”.
The lawyer said PAMO University had never at any time been invited by the Rivers State House of Assembly or any other body to defend the funds made available to it by the state government in fulfilment of its scholarship obligations to Rivers State students.
He maintained on behalf of the university that, since the commencement of the scholarship scheme, the university had “strictly and judiciously” applied the scholarship funds for the purpose for which they were provided.
Read Also
Again, Fubara Approves Promotion Of Rivers Civil Servants›
Rivers Holds Orientation For 1,000 Reinstated Teachers›
Rivers State Govt Approves Recruitment Of 5,000 Teachers›
The legal practitioner argued that the statements could lead an average person to understand that PAMO University was an irresponsible and fraudulent institution which had mismanaged or diverted funds provided by the Rivers State Government for the education of students.
He consequently demanded the immediate retraction of the statements and an apology to the university for what he described as the malicious defamation and sullying of its integrity.
The lawyer gave the Speaker 24 hours upon notification of the letter to meet the demands.
He further warned that failure or refusal to comply within the stipulated period would prompt the university to institute legal proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction to seek remedies, without further reference to the Speaker.
