There was a moment of tension at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday morning, as immigration officers briefly seized the international passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central.
The incident occurred just before her scheduled British Airways flight to London on July 24, 2025. Eyewitnesses said Senator Natasha arrived at the terminal accompanied by her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, but was stopped at the immigration checkpoint and flagged as a “national security risk.”
The move caused confusion among travellers, with many watching as officers withheld the senator’s passport without offering any formal explanation.
Despite the confrontation, Senator Natasha reportedly maintained her composure and challenged the officers’ actions, saying: “The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport.”
Her husband was seen making frantic phone calls as the standoff continued.
Minutes later, in a sudden reversal, the passport was returned to the senator without explanation, and she was cleared to proceed through immigration and board her flight just in time.
The incident has raised concerns over potential political intimidation, with several onlookers describing it as an unnecessary embarrassment and a possible abuse of institutional authority.
As of the time of reporting, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the office of the Senate President has issued an official statement regarding the incident.
