By AMID an unending, intense persecution by the Nigerian government led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, experienced a brief travel disruption on Wednesday, 24 July 2025, when her international passport was temporarily seized by immigration officers at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The incident occurred just before she was due to board a British Airways flight to London in the early hours of the morning.
Eyewitnesses said the senator arrived at the international terminal alongside her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, only to be stopped at the immigration checkpoint and informed that she had been flagged as a “national security risk.”
Despite the sudden confrontation, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was described as remaining calm and composed throughout the exchange.
“The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she was overheard telling the officers, insisting they had no legal grounds to detain her or prevent her travel.
Sources at the airport claimed the order to seize her travel documents came from the Controller General of Immigration, allegedly acting on instructions from the President of the Senate.
No formal explanation was provided at the time, deepening speculation that the move was politically motivated.
Chief Uduaghan was seen making several urgent phone calls as the situation unfolded.
After a tense delay, the senator’s passport was quietly returned without comment, and she was allowed to proceed through immigration, ultimately boarding her flight in time.
The incident has raised fresh concerns among observers and civil rights advocates, who fear an increasing trend of state institutions being used for political intimidation.
Critics have described the episode as a needless embarrassment and a troubling sign of potential abuse of power.
As of press time, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the office of the Senate President had issued an official statement regarding the incident.
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