A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Tuesday cleared the way for a hearing in a ₦40 billion defamation suit instituted by former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Justice M. A. Hassan fixed March 25, 2026, as the hearing date after granting an application allowing the claimant to serve court papers on the defendant through substituted means.
9news Nigeria reports that the suit, marked CV/4502/25, lists Wike as the first defendant.
In his statement of claim, Cole, represented by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that Wike made defamatory remarks about him during a September 18 appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
He alleged that the minister’s statements suggested his involvement in financial malfeasance, gross mismanagement of state resources and issues linked to the Rivers State Gas/Olympia Hotel.
Cole maintained that the statements were “false, malicious, offensive, and damaging to his reputation in personal, professional, and public capacities.”
He said the broadcast impugned his character both nationally and internationally, adding that he suffered humiliation, mental anguish and significant reputational harm as a result.
He is therefore asking the court to award ₦40bn in damages against the defendant and an additional ₦500m to cover the cost of the litigation.
The former APC candidate is also seeking an order compelling Wike to retract the statements, have the interview removed from all platforms, and issue a public apology on Channels TV. He further wants the court to mandate the publication of the apology in at least five national newspapers.
Cole also prayed that the court issue a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from making or disseminating any further defamatory claims against him. He told the court he had earlier issued a pre-action notice on October 8.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Hassan granted an ex parte application filed by Cole’s counsel and ordered that all court processes be pasted at the FCT Administration headquarters in Garki, Abuja.
The order followed Okutepa’s submission that personal service on the defendant had been difficult to effect.
