An Abuja High Court has summoned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to appear in a ₦40 billion defamation suit filed against him by Tonye Cole, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, is also joined in the suit.
According to a court notice issued on Friday, December 5, the case — marked CV/4502/25 — has been scheduled for mention before Justice M. A. Hassan of Court 33 on December 9.
“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 for mention,” the notice read.
Cole’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Okutepa, said the action was filed after Wike and Channels Television allegedly ignored a pre-action notice and a demand letter dated October 8.
The suit stems from comments Wike made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 18. Cole maintains the remarks were false, malicious, and injurious to his reputation.
Court documents indicate that the statements suggested Cole was linked to financial impropriety and mismanagement of state assets, including matters relating to Rivers State’s gas facilities and the Olympia Hotel. His legal team argues the comments amount to defamation because they imply dishonesty, wrongdoing, and unethical conduct at both national and international levels.
Cole says the broadcast caused him humiliation, emotional distress, and severe damage to his public image. In addition to the ₦40 billion in damages, he seeks ₦500 million in litigation costs and a declaration that the statements aired were false and defamatory.
He is also asking the court to compel Wike and Channels Television to retract the allegations, remove the broadcast from all their platforms, and publish a formal apology on Channels Television and in at least five national newspapers.
Furthermore, Cole is requesting a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from making any further defamatory statements.
The court directed that the defendants enter an appearance within 21 days of being served with the writ.