A high court in Abuja has ordered Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to enter an appearance in a N40 billion defamation suit instituted against him by Tonye Cole.
The suit also lists Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, as a defendant.
The court, in a notice seen on Friday, said the matter, marked CV/4502/25, will be heard on December 9 before M. A. Hassan, judge of court 33.
“Take notice that suit no: CV/4502/25 Tonye Patrick Cole vs Nyesom Ezenwo Wike & Anor will come up on the 9th day of December 2025 before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan (Court 33) for mention,” the notice reads. Cole, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, is seeking N40 billion in damages over comments made by Wike during a live interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on September 18.
The claimant said the statements were false and malicious, adding that they damaged his reputation in personal, professional, and public spheres. Court filings indicate that Wike’s remarks suggested Cole was involved in financial misconduct and mismanagement of state resources, including matters linked to Rivers state gas and the Olympia Hotel.