Tonye Cole Demands N20 Billion, Public Apology from Channels TV Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks by Nyesom Wike
Tonye Cole Demands N20 Billion, Public Apology from Channels TV Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks by Nyesom Wike
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has issued a N20 billion defamation claim and demanded a public apology from Channels Television over remarks allegedly made by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), during a live interview.
Cole’s Legal Team Issues 14-Day Ultimatum
In a seven-page demand letter dated October 8, 2025, and addressed to Channels Incorporated Ltd, owners of Channels TV, Cole’s lawyers, S.O. Okutepa (SAN) & Co., accused the station of airing “malicious and unfounded statements” that have seriously damaged his personal and professional reputation.
The letter referenced the September 18, 2025, edition of Channels TV’s flagship programme, Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, titled “One-on-One with Nyesom Wike.”
Wike’s Alleged Statements and Legal Fallout
During the broadcast, Wike, who is also a former Governor of Rivers State, allegedly labelled Cole a “thief”, claiming he “stole state resources” and acted as a “conduit pipe with Sahara” in the sale of Rivers State Gas assets for $308 million — which Wike claimed had crippled the State’s finances.
Cole’s legal representatives described the statements as “recklessly false and defamatory,” asserting that they were broadcast to millions of viewers and amplified across social media platforms. The lawyers further alleged that Channels TV “gave Wike unrestricted airtime” to make the claims and has rebroadcast the programme on YouTube, thereby aggravating the reputational damage.
“Reckless Disregard for Truth and Fairness”
According to the letter, the remarks portrayed Cole — described as a respected architect, entrepreneur, and pastor — as “dishonest, fraudulent, and morally bankrupt,” exposing him to public ridicule and contempt.
“Our client categorically denies these allegations and states unequivocally that he has never been indicted, convicted, or found guilty of any crime in relation to the matters raised during the programme or any matter at all,” the letter reads.
Cole’s lawyers accused Channels TV of acting with “reckless disregard for truth and fairness,” stressing that the network failed to verify or balance Wike’s claims before broadcasting them.
Demands and Deadline
To mitigate what his legal team described as “colossal damage”, Cole has given Channels TV a 14-day deadline, expiring on October 22, 2025, to fulfil the following conditions:
- A full retraction of the alleged defamatory statements, aired with equal prominence on Channels TV.
- A written and broadcast apology to Cole.
- Removal of the programme from YouTube and other digital platforms.
- Payment of N20 billion in compensation via bank draft.
- A written undertaking from Channels TV to desist from any further defamatory publications.
Failure to comply, the letter warned, would compel Cole to seek redress in court for damages to his name and business reputation.
Channels TV Yet to Respond
As of the time of filing this report, Channels Television has not issued an official response to the allegations or the legal notice.
The development adds another chapter to the ongoing political tensions between Nyesom Wike and members of the Rivers APC, highlighting how media platforms have increasingly become battlegrounds for political and reputational disputes in Nigeria’s public space.
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