The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is set to hear the mention of a defamation suit filed by former Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Tonye Patrick Cole, against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and Channels Incorporated Limited.
The matter, marked CV/4502/25, is scheduled for Tuesday, 9 December 2025.
Cole is demanding N40 billion in damages, alleging that Wike made defamatory comments about him during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on 18 September 2025. In his writ of summons and statement of claim, Cole describes the remarks as false, malicious, and injurious to his personal and professional reputation.
According to court filings, Wike allegedly made statements implying financial misconduct and mismanagement of state assets by Cole, including references to Rivers State gas resources and the Olympia Hotel. Cole’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria J.S. Okutepa, argues that the remarks amount to serious defamation, portraying him as dishonest and engaging in wrongdoing.
In addition to the N40 billion claim, Cole is requesting N500 million to cover the cost of the legal action. He is also seeking a series of declaratory and injunctive orders, including a court declaration that the statements were false and defamatory, a retraction across all platforms, and a public apology aired on Channels TV and published in at least five national newspapers.
Cole further seeks a perpetual injunction preventing Wike and Channels Television from issuing or distributing any similar defamatory content in the future.
His legal team noted that a pre-action notice and demand letter dated 8 October were served on both defendants, but no corrective action was taken, prompting the court filing.
The court has directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of being served with the writ. The case is expected to be mentioned on Tuesday, 9 December 2025.
