A High Court in Abuja has ordered the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to enter an appearance in a ₦40 billion defamation lawsuit filed against him by Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State for the 2023 elections.
Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, is also named as a co-defendant in the case. According to a court notice issued on Friday, December 5, the suit—marked CV/4502/25—has been scheduled for mention on December 9 before Justice M. A. Hassan of Court 33.
The notice reads:
“Take notice that suit no: CV/4502/25 Tonye Patrick Cole vs Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Anor will come up on the 9th day of December 2025 before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan for mention.”
Cole’s counsel, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jibrin Okutepa, said the action was filed after Wike and Channels Television allegedly ignored a pre-action notice and demand letter dated October 8.
The case stems from comments Wike made about Cole during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 18. Cole maintains that the remarks were false, malicious, and damaging to his personal, professional, and public reputation.
Court documents indicate that the statements implied Cole was involved in financial impropriety and mismanagement of state resources, including issues concerning Rivers State gas assets and the Olympia Hotel. His legal team argues that the allegations amounted to defamation because they imputed dishonesty and wrongdoing, thereby harming his standing locally and internationally.
Cole says he has suffered humiliation, mental distress, and significant reputational harm as a result of what he describes as a “malicious, reckless, and unfounded defamatory broadcast.” He is seeking ₦40 billion in general and aggravated damages, ₦500 million as litigation costs, and a judicial declaration that the statements were false and defamatory.
Additionally, he is asking the court to compel Wike and Channels Television to retract the statements, remove the broadcast from all platforms, and publish a public apology on Channels Television and in at least five national newspapers. He is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from issuing any further defamatory statements about him.
The court has directed the defendants to file their appearance within 21 days of receiving the writ.
