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US lawmakers commence moves to sanction Nigerian officials over religious persecution
The United States House of Representatives has introduced a new bill seeking to hold Nigerian government officials accountable for alleged violations of religious freedom and human rights abuses in the country.
Titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” the bill, sponsored by Republican lawmaker from Indiana’s 3rd District, Marlin Stutzman, was introduced on October 21, 2025.
According to details published on the official U.S. Congress website, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration.
Both committees will review the bill, filed as H.R.5808 in the 119th Congress, within their respective jurisdictions before it proceeds to the floor of the House.
In Section 2(a) of the bill, lawmakers outlined the primary objective of the proposed law, saying, “The President shall impose the sanctions described in Executive Order 13818 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the property of persons involved in serious human rights abuse or corruption) on the persons identified in the report required under subsection (b).”
Under Subsection (b)(1), the bill mandates that within 90 days of enactment, and annually thereafter, the U.S. Secretary of State must submit to Congress a detailed report listing Nigerian officials implicated in promoting or tolerating religious persecution.
The report will specifically target, “Federal officials or state governors who have, during the period specified in paragraph, promoted, enacted, or maintained Nigerian blasphemy laws, including through public advocacy, legislative action, or executive enforcement directives; or tolerated violence by non-state actors invoking religious justifications to commit acts of violence, including persons designated as foreign terrorist organisations… or specially designated global terrorists pursuant to Executive Order 13224.”
The proposed law also extends to “Judges, magistrates, prison officials, or other judicial or law enforcement authorities who have enforced blasphemy laws, including through prosecution, conviction, imprisonment, or other deprivation of liberty of individuals pursuant to such laws.”
The reporting period, as defined in the bill, covers 10 years preceding the enactment of the legislation and continues annually thereafter, ensuring that both past and ongoing violations are subject to scrutiny.
The bill also reinforces Nigeria’s recent redesignation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under U.S. law—an action that subjects nations to potential sanctions for severe violations of religious freedom.
The text of the legislation read, “In reports required under Section 402(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)(A)) and concurrent reviews required under section 301(a) of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 6442a(a)), the Secretary of State shall designate, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom: the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC); and Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC).”
If passed, the bill would compel the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials and entities accused of enabling religious persecution or turning a blind eye to violence justified by religion, signalling a major escalation in Washington’s pressure on Nigeria over religious freedom issues.
The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgement that removed its leadership.
The opposition party also disclosed that it had filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.
The party made this known in a statement on Friday, November 6, adding that it had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken,
The appeal is against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.
The party urged INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter until the Court of Appeal has considered the case.
It argued that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be decided and that the electoral commission should not take any step that could affect the outcome of the appeal.
According to the ADC, it expects INEC to respect the ongoing legal process and allow the appellate court to hear the matter before making any decision connected to the judgement.
The statement partly read, “The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course.
“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.”
The party also urged its members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court judgement would not stop its political activities.
It said its campaigns would continue while it explored all available legal options to defend its position.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring the caretaker committee that oversaw the party’s affairs illegal and invalidating all decisions taken by the committee.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, also affects the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate, had already selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the David Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions undertaken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the authority of the caretaker committee and decisions taken under its leadership.
The verdict is expected to trigger fresh political uncertainty within the ADC, particularly over Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the party has vowed to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
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