The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has demanded a public apology and ₦20 billion in damages from Channels Television over alleged defamatory statements made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Cole, through his legal team, S.O. Okutepa (SAN) & Co., issued a seven-page demand letter dated October 8, 2025, to Channels Incorporated Ltd., accusing the station of broadcasting “malicious and unfounded” remarks that allegedly tarnished his reputation.
The demand followed comments made by Wike during the September 18, 2025 edition of Politics Today, a live programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, titled “One-on-One with Nyesom Wike.”
During the interview, Wike, a former Rivers State governor, allegedly labelled Cole a “thief,” accused him of “stealing state resources,” and linked him to the “sale of Rivers State Gas for $308 million” through Sahara Energy — claims he said “crippled the state’s resources.”
Cole’s lawyers said the statements, broadcast live and shared widely on social media, were made “recklessly and without factual basis,” and accused Channels TV of giving Wike “unfettered airtime” to make the allegations. They added that the continued availability of the programme on the station’s YouTube channel had worsened the reputational damage.
The letter described Cole — identified as a respected architect, entrepreneur, and pastor — as having been portrayed falsely as “a dishonest and fraudulent person, an economic saboteur, and a morally bankrupt man.” It said the publication had exposed him to “public ridicule and contempt” and lowered his esteem among his peers and the public.
“Our client categorically denies these allegations and maintains that he has never been indicted, convicted, or found guilty of any crime related to the issues raised,” the letter stated.
The legal team accused Channels TV of “reckless disregard for truth and fairness” and failure to retract or verify the allegations.
They gave the station a 14-day deadline, expiring on October 22, 2025, to retract the statements with equal prominence, issue a public apology, remove the interview from all platforms, and pay ₦20 billion in damages.
Cole’s lawyers also demanded a written undertaking from Channels TV to refrain from future defamatory publications against their client.
