In a moment of high drama at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigerian immigration officers briefly seized the international passport of Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan in the early hours of Wednesday, July 24, 2025.
The senator, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly, arrived at the airport alongside her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, ready to board a British Airways flight to London. However, just before boarding commenced, she was abruptly stopped by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service who flagged her as a “national security risk,” according to eyewitness accounts.
Despite the disruption, Senator Natasha reportedly remained calm and assertive, challenging the officers’ decision to confiscate her passport without legal grounds. “The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she was heard telling the officers, maintaining her composure amid the tense scene.
Airport insiders suggest the order to detain her travel documents came directly from the Controller General of Immigration, allegedly following instructions from the office of the Senate President. No official reason was communicated to the senator at the time, adding fuel to speculation that the move may have been politically motivated.
Chief Uduaghan, visibly agitated, was seen making urgent calls as the delay continued. The standoff lasted several minutes before the passport was quietly returned—still without explanation—allowing the senator to complete immigration procedures and board her flight just in time.
The incident has raised eyebrows across political and civil society circles, with critics questioning the growing trend of using security agencies for alleged political intimidation. While no formal statement has been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service or the Senate President’s office, the episode has reignited public debate on the misuse of institutional power in Nigeria’s democratic space.
