Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused immigration officials at a Nigerian airport of unlawfully preventing her from travelling abroad.
The lawmaker made the allegation during a live broadcast on her Facebook page on Tuesday morning, showing officials allegedly withholding her passport without any legal justification.
“Have I committed any offence? Why are you withholding my passport?” she questioned during the livestream.
The senator explained that the confrontation occurred shortly after she marked her second year in office and decided to take a brief break.
“After completing my second-year celebration, I chose to take a week off. I’m at the airport now, and my passport has been withheld again,” she lamented.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also recalled a similar incident, claiming her passport was previously seized on the instruction of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“The last time this happened, the officer told me Senator Akpabio instructed them not to let me travel, alleging that I tarnish the country’s image through international interviews,” she said. “This is wrong. There was no such order. Yes, I have two federal cases, but the President himself directed the Attorney-General to withdraw them, acknowledging they were politically motivated. So why should my passport be seized at the international airport? There is absolutely no reason.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither Senate President Akpabio nor the Nigerian Immigration Service had responded to her allegations.
‘No Right to Withhold My Passport’
Visibly upset during the livestream, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan warned that she might take legal action.
“You have no right to withhold my passport or stop me from leaving my country,” she insisted. “I have committed no offence. This harassment must stop. I think I will have to sue for this continuous embarrassment.”
She questioned why her passport continued to be seized despite complying with all court obligations.
“There is no court order restricting my travel. I have never missed a court appearance. I am not a flight risk. I pose no threat to my country. So why am I being treated like a criminal?” she asked.
Minutes later, one of the officials returned her passport.
“Can I have my passport, please? Thank you,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to be a rebel to get things right. If I hadn’t gone public, would you have given me my passport?”
During the broadcast, immigration officers could be heard apologising and attempting to calm her down.
Ongoing Legal and Political Battles
The senator’s outburst comes amid ongoing legal and political tensions involving her and key government figures.
In October, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation dismissed her claims that the charges against her amounted to an abuse of court process, insisting they stemmed from “comprehensive and conclusive investigations.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently facing separate charges of alleged criminal defamation and cybercrime before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court, Abuja. Justice Mohammed Umar has adjourned the cybercrime trial to 24 November.
She was previously arraigned on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar.
The Kogi senator recently returned to plenary following a six-month suspension imposed by the Senate for alleged misconduct—a move that sparked widespread criticism.
Her office, sealed during the suspension, was reopened on 23 September, allowing her to fully resume her legislative duties.
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