Unrepentant Criminal: Embattled Chairman Of Gboko Local Government Of Benue State, Agber Abraham Tavershima Diverts N1.6 Billion To Self

Secrets Reporters

Documents have revealed that the embattled Chairman of Gboko Local Government area of Benue State, Agber Abraham Tavershima who is embroiled in corruption cases, has committed more financial crimes than the public already knows. 

Recall that Tavershima was recently ousted by the State governor, Hyacinth Alia over gross misconduct, embezzlement of local government revenue funds and indulging in unwholesome activities unbefitting of the office the Chairman of a local government.

According to documents exclusively obtained by SecretsReporters, Tavershima, leveraging on his office as Local Government Chairman, diverted series of government contracts worth N1,625,384,165.57 to a company he floated fourteen years ago. These diversions are different from the financial crimes that got him flushed out of office recently. 

Records have it that these contracts were awarded to Tavershima’s company, Daho Global Resources Ltd, by government coy such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Universal Basic Education, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, National Social Investment Office, Federal Medical Centre, among others. 

Data revealed that on 14th February 2019, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development transferred ₦17,088,290.14 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “2018 capital projects.”

On 5th November 2019, the National Rural Electrification Agency wired ₦53,918,399.37 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Rehabilitation of insurgency-destroyed network and provision of solar mini-grids in the Northeast.”

On 31st December 2019, the National Rural Electrification Agency transferred ₦10,608,740.76 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Rehabilitation of insurgency-destroyed network and provision of solar mini-grids in the Northeast.”

Fast forward to 19th March 2020, the National Rural Electrification Agency transferred ₦27,528,723.70 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for an unspecified project.

On 31st December 2020, the National Rural Electrification Agency experienced an outflow of ₦47,284,305.26 in favour of Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Supply and installation of solar street lights in Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency, Delta State.”

It is on record that on 21st March 2021, the National Social Investment Office transferred ₦12,863,429.56 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Provision of training services for N-Tech software in Northwest Nigeria.”

On 29th March 2021, the National Social Investment Office transferred ₦12,863,429.56 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Provision of training services for N-Tech software in the Northwest by Daho Global Resources Ltd.”

Two days later, the National Rural Electrification Agency transferred ₦27,132,870.11 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Supply and installation of solar street lights in Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency, Delta State.”

We gathered that on 10th May 2021, the National Social Investment Office transferred ₦52,776,555.00 to Daho Global Resources Ltd as “65% contract sum for the provision of training services for N-Tech software in Northwest Nigeria.”

Two months later, the National Institute for Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State transferred ₦32,851,143.52 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Constituency projects payments to contractors.”

Skip forward to 8th September 2021, the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi escalated ₦12,861,080.00 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Free medical outreach at Tarka LGA.”

The exploitation continued the following year as records revealed that on 1st April 2022, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Commission transferred ₦13,547,574.42 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Perimeter fencing at Avbiosi Primary School, Avbiosi Old Site, Owan West LGA, Edo State.”

On 17th June 2022, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning – HQtrs transferred ₦28,179,458.31 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Consultancy services to support Nigeria Cluster System Transformation for ND2050.”

The sum of ₦60,480,000.00 left the coffers of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta in favour of Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Empowerment of 20 Niger Delta youths on commodity shop business setup in Delta State under PAP,” on 6th July 2022.

On 27th September 2022, the National Institute for Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State transferred ₦24,630,232.56 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Payment to contractors as per certificate issued (net).”

On 22nd December 2022, the National Productivity Centre transferred ₦30,571,061.86 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Supply of tricycles in Yobe North Senatorial District.”

Last year, Tavershima’s feasted massively on government contracts. For instance, on 13th March 2023, the National Productivity Centre transferred ₦21,457,398.14 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Hosting of the National Productivity Summit.”

On 26th May 2023, the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority transferred ₦226,446,118.87 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “1st payment for the construction of roads with associated drainage works at the Special Economic Zone, Ilorin, Kwara State.”

On 22nd June 2023, the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority transferred ₦401,093,277.36 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “2nd payment for the construction of roads with associated drainage works at the Special Economic Zone, Ilorin, Kwara State.”

On 27th June 2023, the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research transferred ₦22,739,200.63 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Training on smoking kiln design, fabrication, and repairs for unemployed youths in selected areas in Igan Koto, Afon, and Igbesa communities (Phase II).”

On 27th June 2023, the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research transferred ₦22,731,138.13 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Artisan training and development in demersal fisheries capture, chart plotting, and piloting for unemployed youths in Moriwi, Agbara, and Ibese communities (Phase II).”

On 22nd September 2023, the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu transferred ₦24,505,470.28 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Supply and installation of solar-powered street lights in selected streets in Uhunmwode LGA, Edo State (Lot G51).”

On 16th October 2023, SMEDAN – HQtrs transferred ₦24,760,925.58 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Provision of specialized training for nine (9) existing OLOP cooperatives in the FCT.”

On 19th December 2023, the Federal Ministry of Environment Headquarters transferred ₦30,772,664.30 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Provision of an underground water storage system in the arid zones to mitigate the effects of drought and climate change.”

Tavershima’ Daho Global Resources Ltd started off the current year with a contract on 16th February 2024, awarded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security pegged at ₦34,390,243.90 for “Procurement of herbicides for smallholder farmers in the Southwest, Southeast, and South-South geopolitical zones.”

On 30th March 2024, SMEDAN – HQtrs transferred ₦23,860,465.12 to Daho Global Resources Ltd for “Skill acquisition training in the Southeast geopolitical zone (Contract: SMEDAN/CONTR/CAP/2020/038).”

Records have it that Daho Global Resources Ltd was incorporated in Gboko, Nigeria with Registration Number 861823. It was registered on 02 Jan 2010 and its current status is unknown. The company’s registered office address is No16, Abuul street Gboko West, Gboko, Benue.

It is one record that Agber Abraham Tavershima is the owner of the company. Meanwhile, the law forbids public servants from owning and running a company.