The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has scheduled December 9, 2025, for the hearing of a defamation suit filed by former Rivers State governorship candidate, Tonye Patrick Cole, against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and Channels Incorporated Limited.
The suit, marked CV/4502/25, seeks N40 billion in damages over statements allegedly made by Wike during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on September 18, which Cole claims were defamatory.
In the writ of summons and accompanying statement of claim, Cole argues that Wike’s remarks were false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation across personal, professional, and public spheres.
Court filings show that Wike’s comments allegedly portrayed Cole as being involved in financial impropriety and mismanagement of public resources, including issues linked to Rivers State gas assets and the Olympia Hotel.
Cole’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jibrin Okutepa, contends that the statements amount to defamation as they imply dishonesty and serious wrongdoing, harming Cole’s reputation both within Nigeria and internationally.
