Ndume, representing Borno South, spoke during an interview on Politics Today, saying, “I am surprised that Kwankwaso’s name was mentioned, and I want to know why and how he got mentioned.”
He added, “For them to mention just Kwankwaso, a former governor, something must be fishy somewhere. Perhaps there is intelligence and information available to others that some of us aren’t aware of. I don’t want to go too deeply into that, but in my view, the asset freezes and sanctions proposed by the UK, America, and other developed countries are misplaced.”
On Tuesday, five US lawmakers introduced a bill seeking to sanction Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over alleged violations of religious freedom.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” is sponsored by Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
The bill directs the US Departments of State and Treasury to impose targeted sanctions—including visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act—on individuals or entities responsible for serious religious freedom violations. It specifically mentions Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria, Kwankwaso, MACBAN, and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The legislation follows US President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged attacks on Christians, a move the sponsoring lawmakers called justified.
Ndume, however, urged the US and other nations to focus their attention on the actual “People of Particular Concern” rather than labeling Nigeria as a whole. “The majority of Nigerians are innocent people. But there are a few people who are holding Nigeria’s assets outside, and they [foreign powers]know, and up to now, there is no exposure [of such people],” he said.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, rejected the proposed legislation, calling it “unfounded” and “politically motivated,” and demanded his removal from the bill. Spokesperson Habibu Mohammed stated, “We assert unequivocally that these allegations are consistent with nothing in the verifiable public record of Senator Kwankwaso’s life and service.”
A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), under which Kwankwaso contested the 2023 presidential election, also criticised the move. “How can anybody in their right senses put up a bill that is as important as talking about religion and terrorism and single out one individual in this country?” asked Folashade Aliu.
