The United States has escalated its campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) by imposing sanctions on its president, Tomoko Akane, and senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye. This move was announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, marking a significant step in the Trump administration's ongoing opposition to the Hague-based court.

The sanctions were enacted under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last year, which specifically targets the ICC for its investigations into officials from countries that have not consented to the court's jurisdiction. Rubio stated that Akane and Seye have been involved in efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals in such jurisdictions, which includes notable cases involving Israeli officials and U.S. military personnel.

The ICC, established in 2002 to address war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, has faced criticism from the U.S., which is not a member of the court. The latest sanctions come after previous measures were taken against several ICC officials, including judges and prosecutors, particularly in connection to arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by Akane and Seye and cut them off from the U.S. financial system.

In a related development, the family of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has reached out to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal, demanding the immediate hearing of his pending cases. Kanu's family expressed frustration over the Federal Government's failure to respond to their legal challenges, which have been pending for several months.

Kanu initiated proceedings before the Supreme Court on November 7, 2025, contesting the legality of a remittal judgment issued by the court in December 2023. Despite being served, the family claims the government has not filed a substantive response or moved to list the case for hearing in over nine months. Additionally, Kanu is appealing a November 20, 2025 conviction and life sentence.

The family criticized the disparity in the judicial system's responsiveness, recalling how swiftly the courts acted when the government sought to prevent Kanu's release in 2022. They highlighted that the Court of Appeal had previously discharged Kanu and quashed the criminal charges against him, yet the government subsequently obtained a civil stay of execution just two weeks later, which they argue is an unlawful hybridization of civil and criminal procedures.

They emphasized that Kanu is not seeking special treatment but rather a fair and prompt resolution of his appeals. The family plans to notify international bodies, including the U.S. Congress and the Israeli Knesset, about the ongoing issues surrounding Kanu's legal battles. As it stands, Kanu remains in detention following his conviction, and his family continues to advocate for his rights within the Nigerian judicial system.