A United States lawmaker has spoken strongly on the floor of the US Congress, asking for the quick release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
On Thursday, 23 July 2026, Congressman John James, a Republican from Michigan, stood up in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and made the call. He urged his fellow lawmakers to support the immediate and unconditional release of Kanu, or at least a fresh fair trial that follows Nigeria’s own laws and international human rights rules. Watch Video Here ➜
James linked Kanu’s case to what he called serious problems of Christian persecution in Nigeria. He said Nigeria is currently the deadliest place on earth for Christians, claiming that tens of thousands have been killed since 2019 by Islamist groups. According to him, the Nigerian government has not done enough to stop the attacks.
Speaking about Kanu, James described the IPOB leader’s trial as a “farce show trial.” He noted that Kanu was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025 by a Federal High Court in Abuja. James said Kanu has been speaking out against the violence and should either get a proper new trial with access to lawyers and medical care, or be set free at once.
The congressman also referred to his earlier resolution, H.Res. 1321, which he introduced on 22 May 2026. The resolution asks the Nigerian government to handle Kanu’s case according to the constitution and international standards. James warned that America gives billions of dollars in aid to Nigeria and “will not continue to fund a Christian genocide.”
Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention since he was brought back from Kenya in 2021. The Nigerian government sees IPOB as a terrorist group and treats the matter as a national security issue. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had earlier called for his release in 2022.
