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 and seen by PUNCH Online on Thursday, 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 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.
About the Author
