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Tonye Cole files N40bn defamation suit against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Channels TV.
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Alleges live interview on Politics Today falsely linked him to financial misconduct.
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Court schedules hearing for December 9, 2025, as case draws national attention.
Businessman and politician Tonye Cole has dragged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Channels Television to court, demanding N40 billion in damages over alleged defamation.
The suit, filed at the High Court, Abuja under case number CV/4502/25, arises from comments made by Wike during a live Channels TV Politics Today interview on September 18, 2025.
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Cole claims the remarks suggested his involvement in financial misconduct, including issues related to Rivers State gas projects and the Olympia Hotel, which he denies.
In a court notice, the Abuja High Court ordered Wike and Channels TV to enter an appearance in the case, which is scheduled for mention on December 9, 2025, before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan.
Cole, the 2023 APC Rivers State governorship candidate, is seeking:
N40 billion in damages for alleged reputational harm
N500 million for legal costs
A declaration that Wike’s statements were false and defamatory
A public retraction and apology via Channels TV and five national newspapers
READ ALSO: Wike Justifies Defection of Rivers Speaker, 15 Lawmakers to APC
A perpetual injunction to prevent further defamatory statements
Led by lawyer Jibrin Okutepa, Cole argues that Wike’s comments were false, reckless, and caused humiliation, mental anguish, and national and international reputational damage.
The court has given the defendants 21 days to enter an appearance after receiving the writ.
This high-profile case is expected to influence media accountability, political commentary, and defamation law in Nigeria.
