The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reportedly withheld the passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, preventing her from traveling out of the country.
Witnesses said the lawmaker, representing Kogi Central, was stopped during departure checks, and her passport was taken by immigration officers who claimed to be acting on “orders from above.”
The incident, which occurred on Monday, caused a brief disruption as the senator demanded an explanation for the action. She was later allowed to leave the airport without her travel document.
In a swift reaction, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned the seizure as an act of political intimidation, alleging that certain powerful interests were behind the move to silence her outspoken stance on governance issues in Kogi State.
“This is not just about me; it’s about the continued abuse of power against citizens who speak the truth,” she said, calling on the Federal Government to uphold democratic freedoms and ensure accountability among security agencies.
Efforts to reach the NIS spokesperson for clarification proved unsuccessful, though a senior officer confirmed that the matter was under internal review.
The development has drawn criticism from rights advocates and political observers, who warned that such incidents could further undermine public trust in government institutions and violate fundamental rights to freedom of movement.
