The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant of arrest for the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), owned by former Governor Peter Odili. The Assembly took this decision due to the VC's failure to appear before an ad-hoc committee investigating N28bn paid to the university for scholarships. The committee, headed by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, insisted on the VC's personal appearance to justify the funds' utilization.
The committee had previously summoned the VC, but he failed to appear, despite other stakeholders, including the Accountant-General and Commissioners for Finance and Education, honoring the committee's invitation. Maol stated that the committee's powers to summon the university's chief accounting officer are backed by Section 129(A), (B), and (C) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The VC's appearance was necessary to speak to financial documents presented by the state Ministries of Finance and Education.
A statement by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, revealed that the lawmakers deliberated on the committee's report and resolved to issue an arrest warrant for the VC. The House also urged the state government to set up a committee to recover unaccounted funds in possession of PAMO University and deposit them in the Consolidated Revenue Account of the State.
The committee discovered that PAMO University received over N29billion from the state government, but there was no corresponding students' enrollment. This gave credence to the reason behind the VC's refusal to honor the invitations. Speaker Amaewhule acknowledged the good intentions behind the government scholarships but lamented their faulty implementation.
Amaewhule expressed concern over the discrepancy in documents presented by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Accountant-General. He stated that by simple deduction, out of the over N29billion released to PAMO University, the school only utilized N5billion. The speaker emphasized the Assembly's determination to do the right thing, irrespective of whose ox was gored.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has shown its commitment to investigating the utilization of public funds. The Assembly's actions demonstrate its resolve to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of state resources. The arrest warrant for the VC is a significant step in this process.
The case highlights the need for proper oversight and accountability in the management of public funds. The Rivers State House of Assembly's actions serve as a reminder to institutions and individuals responsible for managing public resources to ensure transparency and accountability. The outcome of this case will be closely watched by stakeholders in the state.
Key points
- The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued an arrest warrant for the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences over N28bn scholarship funds.
- The committee discovered a discrepancy in the utilization of funds by PAMO University, with only N5billion utilized out of N29billion released.
- The Assembly has urged the state government to recover unaccounted funds in possession of PAMO University.
