A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has approved substituted service on Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike in a ₦40 billion defamation suit filed against him and Channels Television by former Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole.
Justice M. A. Hassan granted the order while ruling on an ex parte application filed by Cole in the case marked CV 4502/25.
Cole is suing over comments allegedly made by Wike during the September 18 episode of Politics Today, which he claims falsely accused him of financial misconduct involving Rivers State gas projects and the Olympia Hotel. He argues that the statements painted him as corrupt and dishonest, causing significant damage to his reputation.
Speaking in court, Cole’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, said the broadcast amounted to defamation because it implied “dishonesty and wrongdoing.” Cole is demanding ₦40 billion in damages for reputational harm and another ₦500 million to cover litigation costs.
The suit also seeks several injunctive and declaratory orders, including:
A declaration that the statements made were false and defamatory.
A directive for the defendants to retract the broadcast and remove all versions from their platforms.
A public apology to be aired on Channels Television and published in at least five national newspapers.
A perpetual injunction preventing Wike and Channels Television from repeating or publishing similar defamatory remarks.
Okutepa informed the court that several attempts to serve Wike personally were unsuccessful, prompting the request for substituted service. He added that a pre-action notice and a demand letter sent on October 8 received no response from either defendant.
Granting the request, Justice Hassan ordered that the writ of summons, statement of claim, witness statements, hearing notice, and other court documents be posted at the gate of the FCT Minister’s office in Garki, Abuja. The defendants were directed to enter their appearance within 21 days.
The case is scheduled for hearing on March 24 and 25, 2026.
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