Senator Natasha’s Passport Seized, Then Released at Abuja Airport Amid Alleged Political Interference

Senator Natasha’s Passport Seized, Then Released at Abuja Airport Amid Alleged Political Interference

A moment of drama unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on the morning of Thursday, July 24, when immigration officials briefly seized the international passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The senator, who represents Kogi Central, arrived at the airport with her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, to board a British Airways flight to London. However, just before boarding commenced, immigration officers flagged her as a “national security risk” and stopped her at the terminal.

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Eyewitnesses reported that Senator Natasha remained calm during the incident and firmly told the officers they had no legal grounds to detain her or seize her passport. “The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she reportedly said.

Airport sources claim the directive to seize her passport came from the Comptroller General of Immigration, allegedly acting on orders from the Senate President. No official explanation was offered to Senator Natasha at the time, fueling speculation of political motives behind the move.

Chief Uduaghan was seen making several urgent phone calls as the situation unfolded. Shortly after, the passport was returned to the senator without any formal apology or clarification, and she was allowed to proceed through immigration and board her flight just in time.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the possible misuse of security agencies for political purposes. Critics have described the episode as both an embarrassment and a troubling abuse of power.

As of now, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the office of the Senate President has released any statement regarding the incident.