Former Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, has filed a ₦40 billion defamation suit against the Minister of the FCT and ex-Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike, over alleged false statements made during a Channels Television interview on Politics Today on September 18, 2025.
Wike had accused Cole of “stealing state resources,” “selling gas assets for $308 million,” and “taking Olympia Hotel.” Cole said the remarks were false and aimed at tarnishing his reputation built through years of business and public service.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, appearing as a witness, testified that he watched the broadcast live and condemned Wike and Channels TV for spreading unverified claims. He added that Wike had similarly defamed him in a 2024 interview, showing what he described as a pattern of malicious speech.
Cole, co-founder of Sahara Group, said the defamatory broadcast caused serious emotional and reputational damage, even affecting his international partnerships. He is demanding ₦40 billion in damages, a public apology, and a perpetual injunction preventing further publication of the remarks.
“This case is about truth, accountability, and protecting the integrity of public discourse,” Cole stated through his lawyers.
