A member of the United States House of Representatives, John James has called on the Nigerian Federal Government to immediately release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), warning that failure to address ongoing human rights and due process concerns could trigger a review and potential reduction of U.S. foreign assistance to Nigeria. ​
U.S. Representative made this demand on Thursday, July 23, Speaking during a Capitol Hill press briefing in Washington, D.C., the U.S.
lawmaker raised sharp concerns over Kanu’s prolonged detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, arguing that Washington’s continued financial and military aid must be contingent on respect for the rule of law and international human rights standards.
​”The United States cannot continue to funnel millions of dollars in financial and security assistance to foreign partners while fundamental human rights and legal due process are openly ignored,” the lawmaker stated.
“The Nigerian government must either ensure the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu or face legislative moves in Congress to re-evaluate our assistance packages.” ​Nnamdi Kanu, a dual British-Nigerian citizen, was re-arrested under controversial circumstances in Kenya in June 2021 and extradited to Nigeria, where he faces treasonable felony charges linked to his advocacy for an independent Biafran state.
​Despite an October 2022 ruling by the Nigerian Court of Appeal that discharged Kanu and declared his extraordinary rendition illegal, the Federal Government appealed the ruling, keeping him in DSS custody in Abuja under security protocols.
​The lawmaker’s ultimatum adds fresh diplomatic pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which is balancing domestic security challenges with maintaining key international alliances, particularly with Washington. ​
The threat to condition U.S. financial support comes as Washington provides foreign assistance to Nigeria spanning human development, health interventions, counter-terrorism support, and democratic governance programs.
​Legal representatives for Kanu welcomed the lawmaker’s remarks from Washington, describing them as a critical step toward international accountability.
Meanwhile, Nigerian federal authorities have consistently maintained that Kanu’s prosecution remains a judicial matter that must follow due process under Nigerian law.
