The Rivers State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee on Education has walked out the legal representatives of PAMO University of Medical Sciences from a public hearing convened to investigate alleged financial mismanagement and non-accountability of funds disbursed to the institution by the Rivers State Government.
The legal team, led by Dr Chukwuma Austin Chinwo, Esq., of Amazing Partners, solicitors to PAMO University, appeared before the committee to represent the institution and submit correspondence relating to the allegations under investigation.
However, the committee reportedly insisted that the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University must appear personally before it without legal representation.
The committee also declined to receive a letter brought by the university’s solicitors, directing that all correspondence should instead be channelled through the office of the Speaker of the House.
Dr Chinwo said the university had previously attempted to submit its reports and correspondence through courier services, but that the documents were not accepted by officials receiving correspondence for the Assembly.
He said the legal team had consequently brought the documents physically to the hearing in an effort to ensure that the university’s response was formally received.
According to him, the representatives were nevertheless prevented from submitting the documents and were unable to obtain the location of the Speaker’s office from Assembly officials before they were asked to leave the premises.
Explaining the relationship between PAMO University and the Rivers State Government, Dr Chinwo said the government sponsors some students at the institution through the Ministry of Education.
He also questioned the applicability of the Assembly’s investigative powers under Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution to the university in the circumstances.
“The relationship of PAMO University with the Rivers State Government is that they sponsor some students at the university, which is managed by the Ministry of Education,” Dr Chinwo said.
He added: “The invitation of the client based on Section 128 of the Constitution, which gives the House of Assembly power to investigate for special reasons, does not affect our client, and that they should not appear.”
Dr Chinwo further alleged that several attempts had been made to communicate with the Speaker’s office on behalf of the university.
“We have sent letters on behalf of our clients to the Speaker, which they refused to accept. The letters have been sent to his WhatsApp, special private mail and our courier persons from Red Star Express, but they refused to accept,” he said.
He maintained that the legal team had appeared at the committee hearing in good faith to represent the university and provide the requested documents.
“This morning, we represented our clients at the committee hearing, yet they walked us out and refused to receive the letter,” he said.
The confrontation came as the Rivers State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee commenced its inquiry into funds disbursed to PAMO University of Medical Sciences from 2017 to date.
The inquiry followed a summons issued by the Assembly earlier in the week directing the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University, the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the Commissioner for Education, the Commissioner for Finance and other relevant officials and agencies to appear before the committee.
At Thursday’s sitting, however, the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University, the Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant-General of Rivers State were absent.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee and Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, expressed concern over their failure to attend the hearing.
Maol directed the officials who were absent to appear before the committee in person on Thursday, 24 September, warning that the Assembly could invoke relevant constitutional provisions to secure their attendance if they failed to comply.
He specifically warned that a warrant of arrest could be invoked should the summoned officials fail to appear on the rescheduled date.
The Commissioner for Education, Peters Nwagor, was present at the hearing.
The inquiry is expected to continue as the Assembly seeks clarification on the disbursement and utilisation of funds associated with PAMO University over the period under investigation.
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