A minor drama unfolded at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Tuesday when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officials who had seized her passport.
The lawmaker, who went live on social media, explained that she was traveling abroad after concluding events marking her second year in office. Last week, reports circulated that Natasha had invited colleagues, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to her celebrations.
At the airport, officials reportedly attempted to prevent her from leaving. In a viral video, the senator could be seen protesting the seizure:
“Why are you withholding my passport? Hello, fellow Nigerians. I have completed the celebration of my second year in office and decided to take a week off. My passport is being withheld again. I have committed no offense, and there is no court order preventing me from traveling.”
She further alleged that during a previous incident, an officer told her the Senate President had instructed the withholding of her passport, claiming her international media interviews “smeared the country’s image.”
A female official behind the counter apologized, prompting Natasha to reply:
“Sorry is not enough. Can you please let me have my passport? You can’t keep doing this to me all the time.”
The senator noted that during the earlier incident, she had to call an influential figure to secure her passport and stated that President Bola Tinubu had directed the termination of politically motivated cases against her.
Shortly after her protest, a male officer handed back her passport, allowing her to proceed with her travel.
