– Imposes outrageous tax on residents – Group condemns action
– “Osuagwu behind blackmail against me,” Says Chairman
The Executive Chairman of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Hon. Okoroike, has come under fire for what many residents describe as an act of political vendetta, following the alleged imposition of outrageous taxes and levies on individuals perceived to be his political opponents.
According to reports, the latest victim of the Chairman’s alleged excesses is Chief C.C. Osuagwu, PhD, a former chairmanship aspirant who once contested the local government position alongside Okoroike.
It was gathered that Chief Osuagwu, in a letter dated 25 September,2025, applied to the Council for approval and a permit to continue his ongoing building project. To his surprise, the Council responded with an outrageous bill amounting to over one million naira, covering various levies and permit fees.
Some residents who reacted to the development described Okoroike’s action as “a political witch-hunt” aimed at frustrating and weakening perceived opponents. They questioned why the Chairman appears to regard the office he currently occupies as a personal right rather than a temporary public trust.
Meanwhile, youths from the local government area, in a statement jointly signed by Ohalete Ifeanyi (Chairman) and Enwerem Wisdom (Secretary), expressed dismay over what they termed “a wave of extortion and intimidation” allegedly unleashed by Hon. Okoroike.
The statement reads in part:“Okoroike has allegedly turned the Council into a tool of intimidation and political persecution. Families who struggled to erect modest homes are now being compelled to pay outrageous and illegal levies for belated approvals. Any person who opposes his administration becomes a target – their buildings are marked and harassed by Council agents.”
The group cited the case of Chief Collins Osuagwu, PhD, of Umuebie, who was reportedly issued an “unrealistic” bill by the Town Planning Department of Isiala Mbano Local Government Council before being granted approval for his building permit.
A breakdown of the charges is as follows:
– Registration Fee – ₦30,000
– Inspection Fee – ₦95,000
– Plan Preparation / Planning Rate – ₦85,000
– Fencing Permit (₦50,000 × 7) – ₦350,000
– Approval Fee – ₦200,000
– Processing Fee – ₦100,000
– General Impact Analysis Report – ₦200,000
Total: ₦1,060,000 (payable to the Isiala Mbano Town Planning Department, Account Number 1000445330).
The youths further alleged that Okoroike’s administration has become “a tool for revenge rather than a vehicle for service.”“That is not leadership but dictatorship in the guise of democracy,” the statement added.
They also questioned why the Chairman, who allegedly owns neither a house nor business in Isiala Mbano, is making life difficult for residents, while purportedly investing Council resources into businesses located in Owerri and other areas.
