U.S. Congressional Briefing on Biafra; BRGIE Urge U.S. to Sanction Nigeria for Kidnapping Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, & Finland for Trans-National Repression on Ekpa

Left-Michael Rubin a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Speaking at the U.S. CONGRESSIONAL Briefing ON BIAFRA 18th september, 2025. Washington D.C

Right-Nkere, The Acting Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government in Exile Speaking at the U.S. CONGRESSIONAL Briefing ON BIAFRA 18th september, 2025. Washington D.C

Speaking at the First Ever Historic U.S. Congressional Briefing on Biafra held on the 18th of September 2025 at the U.S. Congressional Building in the Capitol Hill Washington D.C. Canon House Office Building Room 364, The Acting Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government in Exile, Nkere another Ekpa’s protégé just like Ekpa emerged after Nnamdi kanu was kidnapped in kenya by Nigerian government in june 2021, Nkere led Notable well to do Numbers of Biafrans to the U.S. Congress Room in the Capitol hill for a 2 hours Briefing on Biafra Independence.

Nkere testified in his opening Speech at the occasion that the government of Nigeria, according to Mr. Ekpa, has orchestrated five assassination attempts against his life. After allegedly failing to assassinate Mr. Ekpa, the government of Nigeria successfully pressured the government of Finland to arrest Mr. Ekpa in November of 2024 on politically motivated charges. The government of Finland then issued an indictment against Mr. Ekpa, as well as a subsequent conviction, which demonstrated the political nature of the prosecution at the instigation of the government of Nigeria. The indictment by Finland, issued in May of 2025, alleged that Mr. Ekpa participated and supported a terrorist organization, even though pro-Biafra organizations are not designated as terrorist groups in Finland or in the European Union. In fact, the only country in the world where pro-Biafra organizations are deemed as ‘terrorist’ groups is Nigeria. The indictment highlighted many internal issues within Nigeria as part of the allegations and labeled then “unlawful” without justification-for example, the prosecutor asserted Mr. Ekpa’s alleged goal of reforming or repealing Nigeria’s constitution was “unlawful”, as well as labeling the position that the Nigerian State should withdraw its armed forces from South- Eastern Nigeria as “unlawful”. For the government of Finland to assert that a Finnish citizen holding political positions regarding internal policy matters within Nigeria is somehow a criminal offense in Finland is nonsensical and absurd, and demonstrates that Finland is engaging in a politically motivated persecution. 

Nigeria’s conduct towards both Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa demonstrates trans-national repression.

At the moment, the issue of Biafra, the insecurity in Southeast Nigeria and all the unpleasant aftermaths cannot be resolved while the Federal Government of Nigeria persists in the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Finland persists in its detention of Simon Ekpa, and Biafrans continue to be marginalized. 

On the basis of the foregoing, we most respectfully suggest the following to the US government:

1. Urge the United States to invoke the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of P.L. 114-328) to identify and impose travel and financial restrictions on all officials of the Federal Government of Nigeria and any Nigerian non-State actors implicated in the killings of Biafran Christians in their homeland in Southeast Nigeria;

2. Urge the U.S. government, including through targeted sanctions and/or tariffs, to pressure the government of Nigeria to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and allow him safe passage out of Nigeria.

1. Urge the U.S. government to pressure the government of Finland regarding its politically motivated trial and conviction against pro-Biafra activist Simon Ekpa.

1. Urge the United States to deny all bilateral assistance and visas to officials of the Government of Nigeria if it continues to engage in trans-national repression against pro-Biafra activists, and if Simon Ekpa and Nnamdi Kanu continue to be held in detention.

Consequently, Biafrans, through BRGIE, are ready to engage with the international community, including the US government especially, in seeking to establish a newly independent Biafra state. The BRGIE is willing to engage in deal-making with the US government, and come to economic, defense, and security agreements with the United States. Biafrans, represented by BRGIE, are willing to negotiate with the US in reciprocity and in anticipation for specific demands, interests and expectations of the US. Recent events in sub-Saharan Africa have created a compelling need for the United States of America to get involved in the Gulf of Guinea. There is no better opportunity than that presented by the Biafra. For example, Biafra can be an ideal place for US military bases, as well as seaports.  Biafra can also be host to AFRICOM installations. Biafra can be a close ally of the United States and purveyor of Western interests in the region, as well as a bulwark against Islamic extremism. This is important now more than ever, given the loss of key US military bases in the Sahelian countries, as well as the Nigerian government’s ever-closer relations with United States’ adversaries and United States-designated Islamic terrorist organizations. In addition, Nigeria’s persecution of Christians continues to worsen, and further adds to the case of an independent homeland for Nigeria’s Christian population. Just as US recognition of Somaliland presents great benefit to US geo-strategic interests in East Africa, similarly Biafra can present opportunities along similar lines for the US in West Africa. 

We hope today’s historic briefing will provide a precedence for further diplomatic engagement. Thank you.