Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan experienced a brief but alarming delay at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday morning when Nigerian immigration officers seized her international passport. The incident, which caused temporary travel disruption for the Kogi Central Senator, occurred just before she was due to board a British Airways flight to London.
Eyewitnesses at the airport reported that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who arrived at the international terminal with her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, was stopped by immigration officials who cited "national security risk" as the reason for flagging her. The confrontation unfolded in the early hours of July 24, 2025, right before boarding commenced for the London-bound flight.
Despite the unexpected ordeal, travellers observed that Senator Natasha remained calm and collected. She reportedly challenged the officers, asserting their lack of legal authority to confiscate her passport, stating, "The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport," while pressing them to allow her to continue her journey.
Sources at the airport said the directive to hold her travel documents was issued by the Controller General of Immigration, allegedly acting on the instructions of the Senate President. No official explanation was provided to the senator at the time of the seizure, further fueling suspicions of political interference.
Chief Uduaghan was seen making a series of urgent phone calls as the delay dragged on. Minutes later, the senator’s passport was returned without any formal explanation, allowing her to swiftly proceed through immigration and board her flight just in time.
The incident has sparked murmurs of concern over the use of security agencies for political purposes, with observers describing the situation as an unnecessary embarrassment and a potential abuse of institutional power. Neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the office of the Senate President has addressed the matter.
