A United States Congressman, John James, has renewed calls for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, urging the Nigerian government to either grant him a fresh trial or release him unconditionally.
James made the appeal on the floor of the US House of Representatives on Thursday, linking Kanu’s continued detention to what he described as religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
The Michigan lawmaker referred to H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced on May 22, 2026, which urges the Nigerian government to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.
The resolution is currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Speaking before lawmakers, James described Nigeria as the “deadliest place on Earth to be a Christian,” alleging that tens of thousands of Christians have been killed since 2019 in attacks he attributed to Islamist extremists.
“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadis ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” he said.
He further alleged that extremist groups, including Boko Haram, continue to operate without an effective response from Nigerian authorities.
Addressing Kanu’s case, James described the IPOB leader as a man convicted after what he called an unfair trial for speaking out against the killings. He argued that Kanu, who is serving a life sentence on terrorism charges, should either receive a new trial conducted in line with constitutional and international legal standards or be released immediately.
“I implore my colleagues to support my bill, H.Res. 1321, calling on the Nigerian government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own constitution based on evidence with access to legal counsel, medical care, and international law pertaining to humane conditions of detention, or better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally,” James said.
He also questioned continued US financial assistance to Nigeria.
“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” he said, adding that the United States has a moral responsibility to defend religious freedom.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, by a Federal High Court in Abuja after being convicted on terrorism-related charges.
He has remained in custody at the Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, since his transfer to Nigeria following his 2021 arrest in Nairobi, Kenya.
James’ resolution also cites a July 20, 2022 opinion by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that Kanu’s detention violated international human rights obligations and recommended his release alongside appropriate remedies.
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