Court orders substituted service on Wike in ₦40bn defamation suit

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gwarinpa Division, has ordered that a ₦40 billion defamation suit be served on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, through substituted means.

Justice M. A. Hassan issued the directive while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by Tonye Cole, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

Cole, in suit number CV/4502/25, sued Wike and Channels Television (Channels Incorporated Limited) over comments made by the minister during the September 18 edition of Politics Today, which he alleges were defamatory.

In his statement of claim, Cole argued that Wike’s remarks on the programme were false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation, portraying him as being involved in financial impropriety related to the Rivers State gas projects and the Olympia Hotel.

His counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that the broadcast suggested “dishonesty and wrongdoing,” causing substantial reputational harm to his client within and outside Nigeria.

Cole is seeking ₦40 billion in general damages and an additional ₦500 million to cover the cost of litigation.

He is also requesting declaratory and injunctive reliefs, including a court declaration that the statements were false and defamatory, an order directing the defendants to retract the publication, remove all versions from their media platforms, and issue a public apology broadcast on Channels Television and published in at least five national newspapers.

The claimant is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Wike and Channels Television from publishing or disseminating any future defamatory statements about him.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Okutepa informed the court that several attempts to serve Wike personally had failed, prompting the application for substituted service.

He noted that a pre-action notice and letter of demand dated October 8 were delivered to both defendants, but neither responded.

Justice Hassan, after reviewing the application, ordered that the writ of summons, statement of claim, witness statements, hearing notice, and all other court documents be pasted at the gate of the FCT Minister’s office in Garki, Abuja.

The court also directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of service.

The matter was adjourned to March 24 and 25, 2026, for hearing.