THERESA ADEYEMI POLITICAL DESK
CPC Blacklist: U.S. Lawmakers Move to Sanction 12 Northern Governors Over Alleged Religious Persecution
A new U.S. Congressional bill could sanction top Nigerian officials over alleged persecution of Christians, sparking diplomatic and constitutional debate.
A major diplomatic storm is brewing as the United States Congress considers a bill that could blacklist several Nigerian governors, judges, and religious leaders. The move, tied to alleged religious persecution under Nigeria’s Sharia legal framework, threatens to strain relations between Washington and Abuja — while reviving old debates about Nigeria’s secular identity and constitutional balance.
U.S. Congress Targets Nigerian Officials
The proposed legislation, known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, was introduced by Republican Senator Ted Cruz. It seeks to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to alleged systemic attacks on Christians and restrictions on religious freedom.
The bill empowers the U.S. Secretary of State to identify and sanction Nigerian public officials, traditional rulers, and judges accused of enforcing or tolerating blasphemy laws. If passed, the sanctions — to be imposed under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky Act) — would include visa bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reignited the issue through a post on Truth Social, calling for immediate investigation into what he termed “a Christian genocide in Nigeria.” Trump instructed Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole of the House Appropriations Committee to review alleged religious violence and submit findings to him.
Sharia Law Under Scrutiny
At the heart of the controversy lies Nigeria’s Sharia legal framework, operational in 12 northern states including Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, and Borno.
While Sharia has historically guided personal and family matters among Muslims, its expansion into criminal jurisprudence between 1999 and 2000, during the democratic transition, has drawn persistent global concern.
Senator Cruz’s bill argues that such laws institutionalize religious discrimination and embolden extremist violence. It specifically cites cases in Kano and Sokoto, where individuals were sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, as examples of “state-tolerated persecution.”
However, several other states — including Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Taraba — still maintain secular legal systems, limiting Sharia’s reach to personal affairs among Muslim citizens.
Federal Government’s Response
The Nigerian government has firmly rejected the allegations.
In an official document titled “Nigeria’s Constitutional Commitment to Religious Freedom and Rule of Law”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that Nigeria’s Constitution “neither enforces nationwide blasphemy laws nor persecutes Christians.”
According to the statement, Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) prohibits the adoption of any state religion, while Section 38 guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. It further emphasized that Sharia applies only to Muslims and remains subject to secular appellate review.
“Sharia in Nigeria is not a nationwide, compulsory system,” the document clarified. “Non-Muslims are not subject to those provisions, and all religious adherents enjoy equal constitutional protection.”
The government also argued that so-called blasphemy laws are misinterpreted abroad — noting that public order laws apply equally to all citizens to prevent communal violence rather than to suppress any particular faith.
Diplomatic and Political Implications
If the U.S. Congress proceeds with the sanctions, it could trigger diplomatic friction and damage Nigeria’s international reputation.
Foreign policy experts warn that labeling Nigerian leaders as human rights violators may affect international aid, investment flows, and bilateral cooperation in security and trade.
At the domestic level, the bill has reignited debates about religious neutrality in governance, federalism, and the balance between faith and law in Nigeria’s multi-religious democracy.
Observers also note that the issue could polarize the political landscape, especially as Nigeria prepares for future elections where religious and ethnic narratives often play a defining role.
The U.S. bill has not yet passed into law, but its implications already reverberate across Nigeria’s political and diplomatic space. For Abuja, the challenge will be maintaining its constitutional integrity while addressing global concerns about justice and religious tolerance.
For Washington, the move tests the line between advocating human rights and infringing on a sovereign nation’s legal pluralism.
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Tags:
Nigeria religious freedom, APC, US sanctions, Nigerian governors, Ted Cruz, Sharia law, Donald Trump, Nigeria-US relations, Christian persecution, Global Magnitsky sanctions
