In a disconcerting incident, the Nigerian Immigration Service, through its officers at an airport, seized the passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP/Kogi Central) while she was preparing to embark on an international flight, leaving her in an unexpected and emotionally distressing situation.
In response to the incident, the lawmaker promptly went on a live broadcast on social media while at the airport, where she questioned the authority of the immigration officials regarding the purported confiscation of her passport.
During the live stream, she recounted and confirmed a similar occurrence in the past, during which her passport was ultimately returned following intervention from a "higher authority." She asserted that this troubling pattern has reemerged in the current situation.
In a video recording obtained on Tuesday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of instructing the officers to seize her passport. She characterized the action as an unlawful restriction of her movement and a significant infringement on her fundamental rights.
“Greetings, fellow Nigerians. I am Senator Natasha. After completing my second year in office, I decided to take a week off. I am currently at the airport, where my passport has been withheld once again,” she stated in the video.
“This situation mirrors a previous incident when I was inhibited from traveling despite having committed no offense and lacking any court order that would restrict my movement. During the earlier occurrence, an officer informed me that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had instructed them to withhold my passport, alleging that my international travels cause damage to the country's reputation through interviews with foreign media.”
The senator indicated that it was only through the intervention of an influential individual that her passport was released during the prior incident.
“Godswill Akpabio has directed the Controller General of Customs to withhold my passport. This action is inappropriate,” stated the lawmaker.
She also claimed that President Bola Tinubu had instructed the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to retract all legal actions initiated by the Federal Government against her.
Ultimately, the immigration officials released Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's passport. The Kogi legislator had previously been embroiled in a high-profile dispute with Akpabio in February concerning seat reallocation within the Senate, which culminated in her six-month suspension, effective March 6, 2025. Nonetheless, she resumed her duties on September 24, 2025.