A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has approved the commencement of hearing in the ₦40 billion defamation suit filed by former APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, against the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Justice M. A. Hassan fixed March 25, 2026, for hearing after granting permission for Cole to serve Wike through substituted means. Cole, through counsel Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), alleges that Wike defamed him during a September 18 interview on Channels TV, accusing him of financial misconduct and mismanagement of Rivers State assets.
Cole insists the claims were false, malicious and damaging to his national and international reputation. He is demanding ₦40bn in damages, ₦500m litigation costs, a public apology, removal of the broadcast, and an injunction restraining further defamatory statements.
The court ordered that all court documents be pasted at the FCTA headquarters due to difficulty in serving Wike personally.
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