A high court in Abuja has directed Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to enter an appearance in a N40 billion defamation lawsuit filed against him by Tonye Cole.

Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, is also listed as a co-defendant in the suit.

According to a hearing notice seen on Friday, the matter, marked CV/4502/25, has been scheduled for mention on December 9 before Justice M. A. Hassan of Court 33.

Cole’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Okutepa, said the suit was filed after Wike and Channels Television allegedly ignored a pre-action notice and a demand letter dated October 8.

The former APC governorship candidate in Rivers State is seeking N40 billion in damages over comments Wike made during a September 18 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Cole claims the remarks were false, malicious, and damaging to his personal and professional reputation.

Court filings indicate that Wike’s statements allegedly suggested Cole was involved in financial impropriety and mismanagement of state resources, including issues linked to Rivers State gas assets and the Olympia Hotel project.

Cole contends that the broadcast injured his national and international standing, causing humiliation, mental distress, and reputational harm. He is also claiming N500 million as the cost of litigation.

He is asking the court to declare the statements defamatory, order the defendants to retract the claims, delete the broadcast from all platforms, and publish apologies on Channels Television and in at least five national newspapers.

Cole is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Wike and the station from issuing or publishing any further defamatory material about him.

The court has directed both defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of receiving the writ. (BusinessDay)

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