𝐇𝐨𝐰 ₦𝟒𝟎𝐛𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬: 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐤𝐞

An FCT High Court has granted an order for substituted service on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the ₦40 billion defamation suit instituted against him by former Rivers State governorship candidate, Tonye Cole.

The order became necessary after Cole’s legal team informed the court that efforts to serve Wike the processes directly had been unsuccessful. The court subsequently permitted the documents to be served through alternative means, including pasting them at designated locations or delivering them via other approved channels.

Cole is suing Wike over comments allegedly made during a Channels Television interview, which he claims tarnished his reputation and portrayed him in a negative light. According to Cole, the statements were malicious and politically motivated.

With the substituted service approved, the court is expected to proceed with hearings as soon as Wike is officially deemed served. The case is one of the most high-profile defamation suits currently before the FCT judiciary, drawing attention due to the political rivalry between both men.

Further developments on the matter are expected as the court resumes proceedings in the coming weeks.