ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has denied claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that officers unlawfully withheld her passport and attempted to block her from traveling abroad on Tuesday.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, posted a live video from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, alleging that immigration officials seized her passport without legal justification. She said she was being treated like a criminal despite having no court order restricting her movement.
“I have committed no offence. Why are you withholding my passport?” she asked during the broadcast. She referenced two federal cases previously filed against her, which she said had been withdrawn following presidential intervention.
The senator accused senior officials of orchestrating the incident and threatened legal action. “You can’t keep doing this every time. I think I have to sue you for continuously embarrassing me,” she said.
Moments later, her passport was returned. “Can I have my passport, please? Thank you very much,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to be a rebel to get things right.”
In response, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi said the senator was never barred from traveling. He described the incident as a routine verification process, stating that temporarily holding a passport for checks does not constitute seizure.
“She went through standard immigration checks and was allowed to travel,” Akinlabi said. “Perhaps while waiting for the checks to be completed, she assumed she was being stopped.”
He added that Akpoti-Uduaghan had already boarded her flight by the time the video began circulating online. The agency maintained that its officers acted within their legal mandate.
The incident has sparked debate over the treatment of public officials and the transparency of border control procedures. While Akpoti-Uduaghan has hinted at legal action, immigration authorities continue to defend their conduct as lawful and procedural.
