The 2023 Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Patrick Cole, has filed a ₦40 billion defamation lawsuit against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Cole, in a suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, accused Wike of making “malicious, false and politically motivated statements” that allegedly damaged his reputation during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on September 18, 2025.
During the programme, Wike reportedly accused Cole of “stealing State resources,” “selling gas assets for $308 million,” and “taking Olympia Hotel.”
Cole described the allegations as “utterly false and deliberately intended to paint me as corrupt, deceitful, and criminally minded before millions of viewers.”
According to the claimant, the broadcast caused grave injury to his character, undermining decades of his work in business, philanthropy, and public service. Cole, a co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, maintained that Wike’s comments had also led to the suspension of several corporate and philanthropic partnerships pending clarification.
“This is no longer about politics; it is about truth, accountability, and the integrity of public discourse,” Cole said through his legal representatives. “Every Nigerian deserves protection from reckless abuse of public platforms.”
Joining the case as a witness for the claimant is human rights lawyer and activist Barrister Deji Adeyanju, who told the court that he personally watched the live broadcast and was “shocked by the recklessness of the allegations.”
In his sworn statement, Adeyanju accused both Wike and Channels Television of misusing a national platform to spread unverified and damaging claims, adding that such conduct erodes public trust in the media and responsible political engagement.
Adeyanju further disclosed that he had previously been targeted by Wike during a 2024 interview, where the FCT Minister allegedly referred to him as one of “people with no job.” He said he had submitted evidence of that earlier broadcast to show what he called a “consistent pattern of malicious and defamatory speech” by Wike against perceived critics.
“I watched that interview live. The words used were malicious and unbecoming of a public officer,” Adeyanju testified. “The media has a duty to inform, not to defame.”
Cole’s suit seeks ₦40 billion in general and aggravated damages, a public apology, and a perpetual injunction restraining Wike and Channels Television from further publishing or rebroadcasting the alleged defamatory statements.
As the legal battle unfolds, observers note that the case could set a major precedent for political accountability and media responsibility in Nigeria’s democratic space.