On Tuesday, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted immigration officers at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, alleging Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed them to seize her passport and block her international travel.
“Again, my international passport was seized at the Abuja International Airport’s immigration by the orders of Kemi Nandap the Comptroller-General of Nigerian immigration upon the instructions of Nigerians Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Passport was stamped and released to me shortly after I went live on my Facebook.” senator Natahsa stated
Officers initially withheld the document citing security orders but returned it after she live-streamed the incident and her husband intervened, allowing her to board her flight.
The event underscores ongoing tensions between the two senators, including prior harassment allegations and a 2024 suspension, raising legal concerns over passport rights without due process under a 1999 Supreme Court ruling.