A heated controversy erupted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, claimed that immigration officials seized her international passport, briefly preventing her from traveling abroad.
In a live video shared on Facebook, the senator was seen confronting immigration personnel, expressing frustration and disappointment over the action. According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the seizure was an unlawful restriction of her movement and a violation of her fundamental rights. She recalled a similar incident in the past where she was stopped from traveling without any pending legal case or court order.
“The officer in charge told me that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed to withhold my passport and prevent me from traveling because he claimed that each time I go abroad, I ‘spoil the image of the country’ by granting interviews to international media,” Akpoti-Uduaghan lamented.
However, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) described the incident as a “routine check” and stated that the senator was allowed to travel after a brief delay. “It is a routine check, and she has been allowed to travel. It was an exercise that didn’t even take long,” said Akinsola Akinlabi, the Service’s Public Relations Officer.
When asked if the directive came from the Senate President, Akinlabi expressed surprise, saying, “Of course, not. What concerns immigration exercise with National Assembly matters?”
The incident has sparked debate over the relationship between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership, particularly Akpabio.
The senator’s ordeal comes months after her dramatic suspension and subsequent return to the Senate. As political observers watch how her renewed engagement at the National Assembly unfolds, the incident has reignited questions about the dynamics of power and authority in the country’s legislative arm.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has since confirmed that her passport was returned, and she was able to continue her journey. The incident, however, has raised concerns about the treatment of public officials by government agencies and the potential implications for Nigeria’s democratic processes.
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