Tonye Cole, the 2023 All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, has filed a N40 billion defamation swimsuit in opposition to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, and a preferred Nigerian broadcast media.
The swimsuit arises from remarks made by Minister Wike on Channels Tv’s flagship programme, Politics In the present day, aired on the 18th day of September, 2025, the place he accused Mr Cole of “stealing state assets”, “promoting gasoline belongings for $308 million”, and “taking Olympia Lodge”.
Mr Cole contends that the statements have been totally false and intentionally supposed to color him as corrupt, deceitful, and criminally minded earlier than thousands and thousands of viewers, thereby injuring his hard-earned popularity constructed over many years in enterprise, philanthropy, and public life.
Outstanding human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Deji Adeyanju has joined the matter as a witness for the claimant, testifying that he personally watched the defamatory broadcast and was “shocked by the recklessness of the allegations”.
In his sworn deposition earlier than the Court docket, Adeyanju faulted each Wike and Channels Tv for utilizing a revered nationwide platform to disseminate unverified and damaging claims, stressing that such conduct undermines public belief within the media and in accountable political discourse.
He additionally testified that he was personally attacked by the first Defendant in an analogous method throughout a separate dwell tv interview in 2024, the place Wike described him as one among “individuals with no job”.
Adeyanju advised the Court docket that he has tendered proof of that broadcast to show what he described as a constant sample of malicious and defamatory speech by the first Defendant in opposition to perceived critics and civic voices.
“I watched that interview dwell. The phrases used have been malicious and unbecoming of a public officer. The media has an obligation to tell, to not defame,” Adeyanju said in his testimony.
Cole, a co-founder and former group government director of Sahara Group, says the defamatory broadcast induced immense emotional, skilled, and reputational hurt.
He’s looking for N40 billion usually and aggravated damages, a public apology, and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing or rebroadcasting the offending statements.
His writ emphasises that the printed not solely injured his private dignity but additionally jeopardised worldwide partnerships, with a number of company and philanthropic associates pausing engagements pending clarification of the falsehoods.
“That is now not about politics; it’s about reality, accountability, and the integrity of public discourse,” Cole remarked by means of his authorized representatives.
“Each Nigerian deserves safety from reckless abuse of public platforms.”
