Natasha breaks silence over ‘brief seizure’ of passport at Abuja airport

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, has broken her silence over an incident at the Abuja airport, where immigration officers briefly seized her passport and prevented her from traveling out of the country.

According to reports, Akpoti-Uduaghan was stopped on Thursday morning by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) while attempting to board a British Airways flight to London.

Speaking on the incident, TheCable reports that the senator stated that while her husband’s passport was processed without issue, hers was withheld without any explanation.

“I confirm the incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport today, the 24th day of July 2025,” her message reads.

“My husband and I submitted our passports for outward processing, but only my husband’s was stamped and released to him, while mine was held.

“When I questioned why my passport was withheld, I was told it was system-flagged by the orders of the comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Services. That I’m not to fly out of Nigeria.”

She said after about 30 minutes of delay, her passport was returned and she was eventually allowed to board the flight.

“I caught the flight and [I’m] airborne to London now,” she added.

The airport incident comes just 48 hours after Akpoti-Uduaghan made a renewed attempt to return to the National Assembly, citing a court judgment as the legal basis for resuming her legislative duties.

She is currently contesting her suspension from the Senate, which followed her protest against a change in her assigned seat.

In addition, Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—a claim he has strongly denied.

The federal government has also filed two criminal defamation lawsuits against the senator.