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- During a U.S. House Subcommittee hearing reviewing Nigeria’s status as a Country of Particular Concern, Representative John James asserted that the continued detention and recent conviction of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu are clear examples of religious persecution and political repression in Nigeria.
- James highlighted that Kanu remains imprisoned despite a 2022 Court of Appeals order for his release and a UN call for his freedom, claiming this signals that “the law is optional.”
Representative John James, former Africa Subcommittee Chairman and current member of the U.S. Energy and Commerce Committee, has asserted that the detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu demonstrates ongoing religious persecution in Nigeria.
James made this statement during a U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa public hearing in Washington, D.C., held to review President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
James claimed that the rule of law is being ignored in Kanu’s case:
“Religious persecution is tied to political repression and weakening institutions in Nigeria. The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a clear example.”
He noted previous judicial action taken in Kanu’s favor:
In 2022, Nigeria’s Court of Appeals struck down the charges against him and ordered his release. The UN Working Group for Arbitrary Detention has also called for his unconditional release, yet he remains in solitary confinement in deteriorating health and recently had to represent himself in court.”
James warned that Nigeria is signaling that lawlessness is acceptable, just hours before Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment:
“Nigeria has signaled that the law is optional and targeting Christians is fair game. Just hours ago this morning, despite the pleas and cries of Nigerian people and many Nigerian lawmakers, Kanu was convicted on all charges.”
Nnamdi Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday over terrorism charges.
