Abuja — Businessman and politician Tonye Cole has filed a N40 billion defamation lawsuit against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Channels Television, claiming a live interview broadcast maliciously damaged his reputation.
The High Court in Abuja has ordered Wike and Channels TV to enter an appearance in the case, marked CV/4502/25, which is scheduled for mention on December 9, 2025, before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan.
“Take notice that suit no: CV/4502/25 Tonye Patrick Cole vs Nyesom Ezenwo Wike & Anor will come up on the 9th day of December 2025 before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan (Court 33) for mention,” the court notice reads.
The suit stems from comments Wike made during a Channels Television live interview on Politics Today on September 18, 2025. Cole, the 2023 APC Rivers State governorship candidate, says Wike’s remarks suggested he was involved in financial misconduct and mismanagement of state resources, including matters linked to Rivers State gas projects and the Olympia Hotel.
Cole’s lawyers, led by Jibrin Okutepa, claim the statements were false, reckless, and defamatory, causing him humiliation, mental anguish, and reputational damage both nationally and internationally.
What Cole Wants
Cole is demanding the court:
N40 billion in damages for defamation
N500 million to cover legal costs
A declaration that Wike’s statements were false and defamatory
Orders for the defendants to retract the claims, delete the broadcast from all platforms, and issue a public apology on Channels TV and in five national newspapers
A perpetual injunction preventing any future defamatory statements about him
The court has given the defendants 21 days to enter an appearance after receiving the writ.
This high-profile lawsuit has already drawn national attention, with many watching how it may reshape the landscape of political commentary, media accountability, and defamation law in Nigeria.
