Tonye Patrick Cole, former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has demanded ₦20 billion in damages from Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over alleged defamatory comments made during a television interview.
In a letter dated October 8, Cole’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), accused Wike of making “malicious and unfounded statements” during a live broadcast of Politics Today on Channels Television, which aired on September 18, 2025.
According to the letter, Wike allegedly described Cole as a thief, accusing him of stealing state resources and selling Rivers State gas assets for $308 million.
Okutepa said the statements, which were broadcast to a national and international audience, inflicted “severe reputational damage, mental distress, and loss of goodwill” on his client.
“The words you used and caused Channels Television to publish portrayed our client as a thief, a dishonest and fraudulent person, an economic saboteur, and a morally bankrupt man,” the letter stated.
Cole’s legal team said the interview remains available on Channels Television’s YouTube channel, where it continues to cause reputational injury. They accused Wike of acting “recklessly and in bad faith,” insisting that his claims lacked factual or legal basis.
The letter demanded that Wike issue a public retraction and apology within 14 days through the same media platforms — including a live broadcast on Channels Television and publications in at least three national newspapers.
In addition to the public apology, Cole is seeking a ₦20 billion compensation and a written undertaking from Wike to refrain from making further defamatory remarks.
Okutepa warned that if the demands are not met, the legal team would “resort to all available legal measures” to protect their client’s reputation.
In a separate letter, the lawyers also asked Channels Television to retract the statements, delete the interview from its online platforms, issue a public apology, and pay ₦20 billion in damages for the alleged defamation.