A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarinpa, Abuja has ordered substituted service on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in a ₦40 billion defamation suit filed by Tonye Cole. The order was delivered by Justice M. A. Hassan on Tuesday after the plaintiff’s counsel said they were unable to personally serve the court documents on the minister.
The substituted service will involve pasting the writ of summons, statement of claim, witness statements and hearing notice on the gate of the FCT Administration headquarters in Garki, Abuja.
The court fixed March 24 and 25, 2026 for the hearing of the case.
Tonye Cole had filed the suit after remarks allegedly made by Wike on a live broadcast of Channels Television on September 18. Cole claims the statements were false, malicious and damaging to his reputation, accusing him of corrupt practices involving Rivers State gas revenue and public property.
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Cole is asking the court to declare the statements defamatory, order full retraction, removal of all broadcast material, a public apology on air and in major newspapers, and damages amounting to ₦40 billion plus litigation costs.
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