There was a mild drama at a Nigerian airport yesterday (Monday November 3, 2025) after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) went live on Facebook to protest the seizure of her international passport by operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The lawmaker, visibly upset in the livestream, accused immigration officers of withholding her passport without explanation or a court order, the second time she has experienced such treatment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said she has no criminal record and has consistently appeared for all court proceedings relating to ongoing political matters. She alleged that the directive to stop her from traveling came from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming he accused her of “smearing the country’s image” during her international engagements.
“This is harassment. I am neither a flight risk nor a threat to national security,” she declared, describing the action as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The senator also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously ordered the withdrawal of politically motivated cases against her, raising questions about the basis for the travel restriction.
She criticized immigration personnel for what she described as “taking the law into their hands,” calling the incident embarrassing and an abuse of power.
Following her public outcry and widespread reactions online, her passport was eventually returned to her, allowing her to proceed with her travel plans.
The Nigeria Immigration Service and the Office of the Senate President had yet to officially respond to the allegations as of press time.
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