Court Approves Substituted Service on Wike in ₦40bn Defamation Suit

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Gwarinpa, Abuja, has approved substituted service on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a ₦40 billion defamation suit filed against him by former Rivers State governorship candidate, Tonye Cole.

Justice M. A. Hassan granted the order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex parte application brought by Cole, who also listed Channels Television (Channels Incorporated Limited) as a co-defendant in the suit marked CV/4502/25.

Cole is seeking ₦40 billion in damages over comments made by Wike during the September 18 edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, which he alleges were defamatory. He claims the minister falsely portrayed him as being involved in financial misconduct related to the Rivers State gas projects and the Olympia Hotel.

Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), Cole argued that Wike’s statements were “false, malicious, and injurious,” causing severe damage to his reputation both within and outside Nigeria. He is also demanding an additional ₦500 million to cover the cost of the suit.

The claimant is further seeking a series of declaratory and injunctive orders, including a declaration that Wike’s remarks were defamatory, a directive to retract the statements, remove all related content from Channels Television platforms, and publish a public apology aired on the station and in at least five national newspapers. He also wants a perpetual injunction restraining Wike and Channels Television from issuing any future defamatory statements against him.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Okutepa informed the court that efforts to serve Wike personally had been unsuccessful, prompting the request for substituted service. He added that neither Wike nor Channels Television responded to the pre-action notice and demand letter dated October 8, necessitating the commencement of the lawsuit.

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

The court directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of being served.

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

PUNCH