US Congress Calls for Fair Treatment of Nnamdi Kanu

On May 22, 2026, the US Congress adopted resolution H. Res. 1321, calling for greater scrutiny of Nnamdi Kanu's trial and the conditions of his detention.

Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, by Justice Jame Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges. The resolution, introduced by Congressman John James, urges the Nigerian government to uphold due process and comply with international legal standards regarding Kanu's case.

It emphasizes the need for Kanu to have access to legal representation, adequate medical care, and humane conditions during his detention. The resolution also references concerns raised by international bodies regarding Kanu's arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in June 2021, and his subsequent transfer to Nigeria.

The US Congress has called for the Nigerian government to consider the findings of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that Kanu's detention violated international human rights obligations.