The Scholarship controversies between PAMO University of Medical Sciences and the Rivers State House of Assembly took a twist last weekend as Hon Justice Frank Onyiri has nullified the Order of Arrest of the State Assembly to arrest the Vice Chancellor of PAMO, Prof. Smith Jaja.
The court further granted perpetual injunction restraining the Assembly, the Police or any security agencies from in any way interfering with the rights of the applicant.
Delivering his ruling on Friday 30th October 2026 Justice Onyiri at the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
The judge nullified the Order made against the applicant by the Rivers State House of Assembly, holding that the setting up of a committee to investigate the employer of the applicant purportedly under section 128 of the Constitution after the Appropriation Act 2026 had been passed and signed was a sham.
He held that the Assembly has no power to indict or adjudicate on the guilt of any person but only to investigate and receive evidence for, and only, for the purpose of section 128 of the constitution.
Starting that the declaration to arrest the Vice Chancellor, Prof Smith Jaja of PAMO by the RSHA for failure to appear before it’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 25th of September is nullified.
Giving his judgement in an enforcement of fundamental rights application brought before him by Professor Smith Jaja against fundamental rights by the Rivers State House of Assembly, the court upheld the entitlement of the applicant to have his fundamental rights under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights protected.
The Judge also upheld an order of damages against the Rivers State House of Assembly in the sum of Two Million Naira to be paid to the applicant.
