US Congressman John James (R-Michigan) has called on the Nigerian government to release detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu or risk losing American financial support. Speaking during a House plenary session, James urged colleagues to back H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced calling for a fresh trial for Kanu conducted in line with Nigeria's constitution and international human rights standards.

James alleged Kanu's prosecution reflects a broader pattern of religiously motivated violence against Christians in Nigeria since 2019, which he said the Nigerian government has ignored or enabled, and claimed groups like Boko Haram have operated with little meaningful pushback from authorities. He described Kanu as a "courageous figure" convicted after what he called a sham trial, and called on Nigeria to either retry him fairly under its own constitution or release him immediately and unconditionally.

On US funding, James argued that continued American support should not go toward what he called enabling violence against Christians in Nigeria, given the scale of US aid to the country.

IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful welcomed the intervention, calling it a major boost to the group's campaign for Kanu's release.

Kanu, who leads the separatist movement seeking an independent Biafra state, is serving a life sentence following his November 2025 conviction on terrorism charges. He is currently held while his appeal is pending.