By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
US Lawmaker Says Nnamdi Kanu’s Ordeal Exposes Deep Religious Bias in Nigeria
A United States congressman, John James, has said the treatment of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, represents clear evidence of religious persecution in Nigeria.
James, a former chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and now a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, made the remark on Thursday during a public hearing held by the US House Subcommittee on Africa in Washington DC.
The session was convened to review former President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom.
The hearing featured senior US State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders, who presented different perspectives on the state of religious liberty in Nigeria.
While speaking, James argued that Kanu’s long detention highlighted deeper problems in the country’s justice and political systems.
He recalled that the Nigerian Court of Appeal had dismissed the charges against Kanu and ordered his release in 2022, yet he remained in custody.
“Religious persecution is tied to political repression and weakening institutions in Nigeria. The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a clear example,” he said.
James added that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had also demanded Kanu’s unconditional release, noting that the IPOB leader was still held in solitary confinement despite worsening health conditions and recently appeared in court without legal representation.
According to him, the Nigerian government’s handling of the case suggests a disregard for due process.
“Nigeria has signaled that the law is optional and that targeting Christians is fair game,” he said, stressing that Kanu was convicted “just hours ago” despite pleas from citizens and lawmakers.
Daily Post reported on Thursday that Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on terrorism charges.
Nnamdi Kanu’s legal battle with the Nigerian government has spanned several years. As the leader of IPOB, he has campaigned for a separate Biafran state, a stance that has drawn both support and strong criticism across the country.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 and later fled Nigeria before being rearrested in 2021 under controversial circumstances.
In 2022, the Court of Appeal ordered his release after ruling that his extradition breached international protocols. However, the Federal Government challenged the ruling and continued to hold him.
The case has attracted global attention, with human rights groups, foreign lawmakers, and religious organisations accusing the Nigerian government of judicial overreach and human rights violations.
His recent conviction and life sentence have further intensified debates about rule of law, religious freedom, and political repression in Nigeria.
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