A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday cleared the way for the hearing of a N40 billion defamation suit filed by former Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Tonye Cole, against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Justice M. A. Hassan fixed March 25, 2026, for the commencement of hearing after granting an application for substituted service of court processes on the defendant. The judge ordered that the documents be pasted at the headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Administration in Garki, Abuja, following difficulties encountered in serving Wike personally.
In the suit marked CV/4502/25, Cole, through his counsel Jibrin Okutepa SAN, is asking the court to award N40 billion in damages over statements allegedly made by Wike during a September 18 appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today.”
Cole claims the remarks amounted to defamatory imputations suggesting his involvement in financial misconduct, mismanagement of state resources, and issues linked to the Rivers State Gas and Olympia Hotel. He insists the allegations were false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation at personal, professional, and public levels.
The former APC governorship candidate said the statements injured his image nationally and internationally, adding that he suffered humiliation, mental anguish, and reputational harm. He is also asking for N500 million as the cost of litigation.
Cole further seeks orders directing Wike to retract the statements, remove the interview from all platforms, and issue a public apology on Channels Television and in at least five national newspapers. He also wants a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from making further defamatory publications against him.
The claimant informed the court that a pre-action notice was served on October 8.
Justice Hassan granted the request for substituted service after Cole’s lawyer told the court that personal service on the minister had proved difficult. The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 25, 2026, for hearing.