Ikwuano Revenue: Labour Party Youth Leader Alleges Threat Calls, Denies Mayor’s allegations
*Clear Name Over Extortion Claims, Nwaubani told

By Chimamanda Ezekiel

Fresh controversy has erupted in Ikwuano Local Government Area as the Labour Party Youth Leader, Matthew Okechukwu Francis, says he is receiving threatening calls after rejecting allegations that he sponsored a campaign against the council chairman.
Instead, he is demanding a transparent investigation into extortion allegations linked to the revenue collection system, insisting the mayor should publicly clear his name.

The political tension in Ikwuano has taken a dramatic turn. Labour Party Youth Leader Matthew Okechukwu Francis has broken his silence, denying claims that he sponsored youths to attack the council chairman. He also revealed that he has been receiving threatening calls and urged the chairman to address the extortion allegations against him instead of accusing innocent people.

Labour Party Youth Leader Matthew Okechukwu Francis denied allegations by Ikwuano LGA Chairman Dr. Anthony Nwaubani that he sponsored youths to make false accusations against him. Francis said he only advocated for job opportunities for local youths, disclosed that he had received threatening calls, and urged the chairman to clear his name over extortion allegations by responding with evidence rather than accusations.

The Labour Party Youth Leader in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Mr. Matthew Okechukwu Francis, has dismissed allegations by the Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani accusing him of sponsoring youths to make false allegations against the council boss.

Francis, who spoke during an exclusive interview with Famous Reporters today, Tuesday, July 21, in a swift response to a press statement issued by Mayor of Ikwuano local government area of Abia. interview, describing the accusation as “baseless”.

His reaction comes amid the controversy sparked by a former revenue collector, Prince Ihechi Igbokwe, who recently alleged that he was compelled to remit money to the local government chairman, the chairman’s wife, the Chief of Staff and some of the wife’s relatives during his time as a revenue collector. The council chairman has, however, denied the allegations.

Earlier, Dr. Nwaubanim, in a viral statement issued from his office, which was sighted by Famous Reporters.com in the early hours of today, stated that “the allegations by the Uchenna Onyekwe and Okey Matthew(who identified themselves as “Ikwuano youths” and Ihechi Igbokwe former revenue agent are malicious, baseless, misleading and represent obvious coordinated conspiracy to tarnish the image and reputation of Dr. Nwaubani and his administration.

“Mr Ihechi Igbokwe had been the revenue agent in charge of the haulage since 2024 before his replacement recently. The revenue window is not his life-time investment, particularly with his passionate hatred for accountability and transparency.”

Meanwhile, Famous Reporters reports that the former revenue collector in the area, Prince Ihechi Igbokwe had cried out for help, consequent on an alleged death threats from the Mayor. According to Igbokwe, the alleged threat was promoted by his boldness to call out the Mayor and his wife, Mrs. Nnenna Nwaubani who allegedly victimised him through a perceived unwarranted extortion of the revenue money and suddenly relieved him of the contract when he suddenly could not meet up with their incessant illicit collection of revenue money from him.

However, reacting to the Mayor’s allegations, Mr. Okechukwu, the youth leader,
insisted that his only interest was to ensure unemployed youths in the area were given opportunities to participate in legitimate revenue collection activities.

According to Francis, several youths had repeatedly approached him, requesting his intervention after allegedly being excluded from revenue collection jobs.

“My youths kept calling me, begging me to intervene so they could be engaged in the revenue collection exercise. They said they were ready to work if given the opportunity,” he said.

He explained that he subsequently visited one of the revenue collection points in Ikwuano to interact with those carrying out the exercise before proceeding to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue to verify the status of the revenue operation.

According to him, officials of the Board informed him that the revenue collection was under the state’s authority and not the local government, adding that the contract had been assigned to a designated organisation.

“My appeal to the Board was simple—to consider accommodating qualified youths from Ikwuano so they could earn a legitimate source of income,” he stated.

Francis further alleged that during his visit to the revenue point, the former revenue collector claimed he had made financial remittances to the chairman, his wife and other individuals connected to the local government administration. He said he asked for evidence to substantiate the allegations.

“The man, (Igbokwe) said he had proof of the payments and promised to provide them. I made it clear that allegations of that nature must be backed with evidence,” Francis said.

He added that he intended to seek clarification from the council chairman regarding the claims but was surprised when the chairman allegedly called him and accused him instead of addressing the allegations.

“Rather than responding to the issues raised against him, he started accusing me. I told him leadership requires addressing allegations with facts instead of attacking people,” he said.

Francis also denied allegations that he was sponsoring protests or encouraging youths to make false statements against the chairman.

“I did not sponsor anybody. My concern has always been about creating opportunities for our youths,” he maintained.

The Labour Party youth leader equally denied allegations that he attempted to frustrate an electricity project in his community, Isiugu Amizi, insisting that he merely demanded that the project be completed and residents supplied with electricity before it was commissioned.

“I never stopped any project. I only insisted that the community should actually have electricity before any commissioning ceremony takes place,” he said.

Francis disclosed that his legal team had begun preparations to institute legal action against the council chairman over what he described as defamatory allegations.

“My lawyers are already working on the matter. He will have to prove where and how I allegedly sponsored anyone or collected money from any contractor,” he said.

The controversy continues to generate reactions within Ikwuano, with residents calling for a transparent investigation into the allegations and counter-allegations surrounding revenue collection in the local government area.