The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has ordered that a ₦40 billion defamation suit filed by Tonye Cole against Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Channels Television be served on the minister through substituted means. Justice M. A. Hassan granted the order while ruling on an ex parte motion brought before the court by Cole, a former All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State.
Wike
In the suit marked CV 4502 25, Cole is challenging comments allegedly made by Wike during the September 18 edition of Politics Today, which he described as false, malicious and damaging to his reputation. According to Cole’s statement of claim, the remarks attributed financial misconduct to him in connection with Rivers State gas projects and the Olympia Hotel, an allegation he said portrayed him as dishonest and corrupt in the public eye.
Cole’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, told the court that the broadcast amounted to defamation because it suggested “dishonesty and wrongdoing,” which he said had severely harmed his client’s reputation both within and outside Nigeria. Cole is seeking ₦40 billion as compensation for the alleged reputational damage and an additional ₦500 million as the cost of instituting the suit.
He is also requesting injunctive and declaratory reliefs, including a declaration that the statements were false and defamatory, an order directing the defendants to retract the publication, remove all versions from their platforms and issue a public apology to be aired on Channels Television and published in at least five national newspapers. The claimant further asked for a perpetual injunction restraining Wike and Channels Television from making or circulating any further defamatory statements about him.
At the proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, Okutepa informed the court that repeated attempts to serve Wike personally had failed, which necessitated the application for substituted service. He added that although a pre action notice and a letter of demand dated October 8 were delivered to both defendants, no response was received, making the institution of legal action unavoidable.
After considering the application, Justice Hassan ordered that the writ of summons, statement of claim, witness statements, hearing notice and all other accompanying court documents be pasted at the gate of the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in Garki, Abuja. The court further directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of service and adjourned the case to March 24 and 25, 2026, for hearing.
