Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, faced a momentary travel scare at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja today when her international passport was briefly seized by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, July 24, as she and her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, were preparing to board a British Airways flight to London.
Airport witnesses at the international terminal reported that immigration officials stopped Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, flagging her as a “national security risk” before taking her passport.
Despite the unexpected delay, sources indicated the Senator reportedly challenged the officers’ actions, asserting, “The court never authorized this. You have no right to hold my passport,” while urging them to allow her to continue her journey.
Following a short period, her passport was returned, allowing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to proceed and board her flight to London as planned.
Airport sources suggest that the directive to confiscate her travel document came directly from the Comptroller General of Immigration. As of now, the NIS has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
