President Tinubu sacks Chief of ICOH, Sani Balarabe, appoints replacement

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed Sani Auwalu Balarabe from his position as chief of the Intercountry Centre for Oral Health for Africa (ICOH).

According to People’s Gazette, Balarabe was fired on July 18 over allegations of embezzling N1.4 billion during his tenure. President Tinubu has appointed Taiwo Olaniyi as his replacement.

Earlier this year, the House of Assembly, EFCC, Ministry of Health, and other government bodies received multiple petitions calling for an investigation into Balarabe’s alleged financial misconduct at ICOH.

The petitions accused Balarabe of failing to conduct any research despite receiving significant funds. “Despite all these budgetary allocations, the centre has refused to produce a single oral health research, which is the centre’s core mandate and the reason for its establishment,” the petition stated.

It also highlighted that projects started under Balarabe’s leadership, such as the construction of a remodeled dental clinic and administration block, as well as the procurement of project vehicles, cost over N700 million but were never completed.

Additionally, Balarabe was accused of backdating appointment letters for new staff and paying them salary arrears, only to ask them to remit the money to a designated account.