The Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to enter an appearance within 21 days in a defamation suit filed against him by Tonye Cole.
Mr Cole, the 2023 APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, is suing Mr Wike and Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, over comments the minister made during a Politics Today interview on September 18, 2025.
According to a notice seen on Friday, the case—suit number CV/4502/25—will come up for mention on December 9, 2025, before Justice M.A. Hassan of Court 33.
Mr Cole’s legal team, led by J.S. Okutepa, said the action followed the defendants’ alleged refusal to comply with a pre-action notice and letter of demand issued on October 8.
In the writ of summons, Mr Cole claims that Mr Wike’s statements were false, malicious and damaging to his personal and professional reputation, accusing him of wrongdoing related to Rivers State assets, including gas resources and the Olympia Hotel.
He is seeking N40 billion in damages for alleged reputational harm, humiliation and mental distress, as well as N500 million in legal costs.
Mr Cole also seeks several orders, including a declaration that the statements were defamatory, a public retraction, deletion of the interview from all platforms, and an apology aired on Channels Television and published in at least five national newspapers. He is further asking for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from issuing similar statements in the future.
The court directed both defendants to formally enter appearance within 21 days of being served with the writ.