Tonye Cole, the 2023 All Progressives Congress governorshipcandidate in Rivers State, has filed a N40 billion defamation suit againstNyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor ofRivers State, and a popular Nigerian broadcast media. The suit arises from remarks made by Minister Wike onChannels Television’s flagship programme, Politics Today, aired on the 18th dayof September, 2025, where he accused Mr Cole of “stealing state resources”,“selling gas assets for $308 million”, and “taking Olympia Hotel”. Mr Cole contends that the statements were utterly false anddeliberately intended to paint him as corrupt, deceitful, and criminally mindedbefore millions of viewers, thereby injuring his hard-earned reputation builtover decades in business, philanthropy, and public life. Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Deji Adeyanjuhas joined the matter as a witness for the claimant, attesting that hepersonally watched the defamatory broadcast and was “shocked by therecklessness of the allegations”. In his sworn deposition before the Court, Adeyanju faultedboth Wike and Channels Television for using a respected national platform todisseminate unverified and damaging claims, stressing that such conductundermines public trust in the media and in responsible political discourse. He also testified that he was personally attacked by the 1stDefendant in a similar manner during a separate live television interview in2024, where Wike described him as one of “people with no job”. Adeyanju told the Court that he has tendered evidence ofthat broadcast to demonstrate what he described as a consistent pattern ofmalicious and defamatory speech by the 1st Defendant against perceived criticsand civic voices. “I watched that interview live. The words used weremalicious and unbecoming of a public officer. The media has a duty to inform,not to defame,” Adeyanju stated in his testimony. Cole, a co-founder and former group executive director ofSahara Group, says the defamatory broadcast caused immense emotional,professional, and reputational harm. He is seeking N40 billion in general and aggravated damages,a public apology, and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants frompublishing or rebroadcasting the offending statements. His writ emphasises that the broadcast not only injured hispersonal dignity but also jeopardised international partnerships, with severalcorporate and philanthropic associates pausing engagements pendingclarification of the falsehoods. “This is no longer about politics; it is about truth,accountability, and the integrity of public discourse,” Cole remarked throughhis legal representatives. “Every Nigerian deserves protection from reckless abuse ofpublic platforms.”
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