Pamo University of Medical Sciences has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, over what it described as “malicious and defamatory” comments concerning the management of scholarship funds allocated to the institution.
The demand was contained in a letter dated September 3, 2026, signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ayodeji Adedipe, of Adedipe and Adedipe Legal Practitioners, on behalf of the university.
The legal action followed comments allegedly made by Amaewhule while presenting the 2026 Rivers State Appropriation Bill at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, on September 3.
According to the letter, the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee had considered a proposal of N6 billion for Pamo University of Medical Sciences in the state budget.
The Speaker was also alleged to have stated that the university had not been transparent in its management of funds allocated to it over the years, adding that the state could not ascertain what had happened to taxpayers’ money given to the institution.
The letter further alleged that Amaewhule claimed the university was invited by the House Committee but failed to appear, and that it did not present any records or report to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, Pamo University, through its lawyers, strongly denied the allegations, describing them as “totally false and unfounded.”
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The university maintained that 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 for the fulfilment of its scholarship obligations to Rivers State students.
It further stated that since the commencement of the scholarship scheme, the funds had been “strictly and judiciously” applied for the purpose for which they were provided.
The university’s lawyers argued that the comments could give an average person the impression that Pamo University was an irresponsible and fraudulent institution that had mismanaged or diverted funds meant for the education of Rivers State students.
The legal team said the statements had embarrassed, maligned and defamed the university, particularly the suggestion that its management had not been transparent in handling the scholarship funds.
Consequently, the university demanded the immediate retraction of the statements and an apology for what it described as the malicious defamation and “sullying” of its integrity.
The lawyers gave a 24-hour deadline for the demands to be met, warning that failure or refusal to comply would result in the university instituting legal proceedings against the Speaker before a court of competent jurisdiction without further reference.
The letter was addressed to Amaewhule in his capacity as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
