John James, a United States Congressman representing Michigan, has issued a stern ultimatum to the Nigerian government: release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), or face a significant reduction in foreign aid.
Speaking during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, James urged the Nigerian authorities to either conduct a fresh trial in accordance with international human rights standards or release Kanu immediately and unconditionally.
The Congressman was canvassing support for **H.Res. 1321**, a resolution he introduced on May 22. The bill, currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, calls on Nigeria to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with the nation’s constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments.
During his address, James linked Kanu’s incarceration to what he described as a broader pattern of state-enabled persecution against Christians in Nigeria.
“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadists, ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” James alleged.
He further claimed that extremist groups, including Boko Haram, have been allowed to operate without meaningful resistance from federal authorities. Describing Kanu as a “courageous figure,” the Congressman characterized his conviction as the result of a “farce show trial” intended to silence dissent against the ongoing killings.
### Financial Consequences
James suggested that the United States’ multi-billion dollar financial support to Nigeria should be contingent on the government’s human rights record.
“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” James stated, adding that the U.S. has a moral obligation to ensure religious freedom for Nigerian citizens.
His resolution demands that any future trial for Kanu provide full access to legal counsel, adequate medical care, and humane detention conditions as dictated by international law.
IPOB Reacts
In a statement issued on Friday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful welcomed the Congressman’s intervention, hailing it as a turning point in the global campaign for Kanu’s freedom.
“We commend Congressman John James for his courage and the United States Congress for providing this platform,” the statement read. Powerful added that the resolution reflects growing international concern over Kanu’s case and urged the Nigerian government to heed the call for a judicial review.
Nnamdi Kanu, whose group seeks an independent state of Biafra in Nigeria’s South-East and parts of the South-South, was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025 on terrorism charges.
He is currently serving his sentence at the Sokoto Correctional Centre while awaiting the determination of his legal appeal. The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that Kanu’s prosecution followed due process and that IPOB’s activities constitute a threat to national security.
