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 alleged defamatory comments concerning the institution’s management of scholarship funds.
The demand was contained in a letter dated September 3, 2026, signed by the university’s solicitor, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, and addressed to Amaewhule.
The legal firm said its client was particularly concerned about statements allegedly made by the Speaker while presenting the 2026 Rivers State Appropriation Act for the Governor’s assent at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
According to the letter, Amaewhule had stated that the Assembly committee considered a proposal of N6 billion for Pamo University and that the institution had not been transparent in managing funds allocated to it by the Rivers State Government.
The Speaker was also alleged to have said the university was invited by the House Committee but failed to appear and did not present any records or reports to the Assembly.
However, the university’s lawyers described the allegations as “totally false and unfounded,” insisting that Pamo University had never been invited by the Rivers State House of Assembly or any other body to defend funds made available to it by the state government for scholarship obligations.
The lawyers further stated that since the commencement of the scholarship scheme, the university had “strictly and judiciously” applied the funds for the purpose for which they were provided.
The letter said the comments could give the impression that Pamo University was an “irresponsible and fraudulent institution” that had mismanaged or diverted funds meant for students’ education.
It consequently demanded the immediate retraction of the alleged malicious statements and an apology to the university for what it described as the defamation and sullying of its integrity.
The lawyers gave Amaewhule 24 hours upon notification of the letter to meet the demands, warning that failure to do so would result in the commencement of legal proceedings at a court of competent jurisdiction without further notice.
