Tonye Cole, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has demanded N20 billion in damages and a public apology from Channels Television over alleged defamatory remarks made against him by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a letter sent to Channels Incorporated Ltd, owners of Channels TV, Cole, through his lawyers, S.O. Okutepa (SAN) & Co., accused the broadcast station of airing what he described as malicious and unfounded statements that have damaged his image and integrity.
The letter dated October 8, 2025, cited an interview the Minister had with Seun Okinbaloye on September 18, 2025, on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to Cole, Wike, a former governor of Rivers State accused him (Cole) of using his company, Sahara Group, as a conduit to steal resources of the state government.
During the interview, Wike accused Cole of being responsible for crippling the state’s resources by selling Rivers State Gas for $308 million.
Describing Wike’s allegations as reckless without any factual basis, Cole said Channels Television compounded the damage to his reputation by availing the Minister unrestricted and unfettered airtime to millions of its viewers to make the”unfounded” claims and has since rebroadcast and retained the interview on its YouTube channel.
The lawyers also stated that the interview has since its broadcast exposed their client – a respected architect, entrepreneur, and pastor – as “a dishonest and fraudulent person, an economic saboteur, and a morally bankrupt man.”
“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 read in part.
The team further stated that Channels Television has a 14-day deadline, which would expire on October 22, 2025, to meet the conditions listed in the letter.
In addition, the legal team called for a full retraction of the interview and statements made therein, with a matching prominence on Channels TV, a written and broadcast apology.
The lawyers also called for a complete removal of the interview on all viewing platforms owned by the broadcast station and a written undertaken assuring that Channels Television will forever desist from allowing such defamatory publications against the former gubernatorial candidate.
