Nigerian senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused immigration officials of seizing her passport at an airport, alleging that the action was ordered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to stop her from travelling abroad. The lawmaker, who recently marked her second year in the Senate with project commissions across her constituency, went live on Instagram to protest what she described as an “unlawful restriction” of her movement.
Appearing visibly upset in the live broadcast, the senator said her passport was withheld without explanation and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of being behind the order. “Hello, fellow Nigerians. I’m Senator Natasha. Having completed my second year in office, I decided to take a week off. I’m at the airport here, and my passport has been withheld again,” she said.
She recounted a similar experience from months earlier when she was reportedly prevented from travelling despite no pending charges or court orders. “The last time this happened, the officer in charge told me that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling because he claimed that each time I go abroad, I ‘spoil the image of the country’ by granting interviews to international media,” Natasha stated.
According to her, the previous incident was only resolved after “a certain influential person” intervened. She further alleged that Akpabio had now instructed the Comptroller General of Customs to ensure her travel documents were seized again. “This is wrong,” she added, describing the action as a gross violation of her fundamental rights.
The senator also claimed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to withdraw all cases filed by the Federal Government against her, questioning why such travel restrictions would still persist.
Airport sources later confirmed that her passport was eventually released after the situation drew public attention. The Immigration Service has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
Natasha Akpoti strained relationship with the Senate leadership traces back to a February confrontation over seat reallocation, which led to her six-month suspension beginning March 6, 2025. She was reinstated to her legislative duties on September 24, 2025.
The latest development has reignited debates about power misuse and freedom of movement for public officials. For the senator, it adds yet another layer to her long-running dispute with the Senate hierarchy — one that now extends beyond the chamber walls to the nation’s airports.
