Lawyer Demands Kwankwaso Address US Sanctions

Legal practitioner Ekemini Udim has strongly urged former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to publicly address allegations linking him to severe religious freedom violations, following the introduction of a new sanctions bill in the United States Congress. The proposed legislation, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026” (HR 7457), aims to impose stringent visa bans and asset freezes on specific individuals and entities accused of contributing to the systemic persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Udim argued that Kwankwaso, a former Minister of Defence and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), must directly confront these allegations to clear his name. Udim suggested that the former governor should immediately address the media to assure Nigerian citizens that he has no involvement with groups designated as threats to religious minorities.

Udim expressed surprise at seeing Kwankwaso’s name listed alongside groups such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the bill, noting that public records do not readily support claims of the former governor sponsoring terrorism. He emphasized that US lawmakers must provide concrete evidence for including Kwankwaso in the sanctions regime, citing the fundamental right to a good name guaranteed by both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The bill, introduced by US Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga, alleges that those named have contributed to the ongoing religious persecution that has plagued Nigeria. If passed, the legislation would compel the US Departments of State and Treasury to act against the designated individuals and organizations.