Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, experienced a brief travel disruption on Wednesday morning, July 24, when immigration officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, temporarily seized her international passport as she prepared to board a British Airways flight to London.

 

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the senator arrived at the international terminal accompanied by her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, when immigration personnel stopped her, citing concerns that flagged her as a “national security risk.”

 

Despite the tense situation, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly remained calm and composed, firmly challenging the officers’ actions.

 

“The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she was overheard telling the officials as she pressed for her immediate release.

 

 

 

Her husband, visibly concerned, was seen making several urgent phone calls during the delay. After a short standoff, the passport was returned to the senator without any official explanation, and she was allowed to proceed through immigration.

 

She ultimately boarded her flight in time, bringing the brief standoff to an end.

 

The reason for the incident remains unclear, and no official statement had been issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service as of press time.