Abuja, Nigeria — November 4, 2025
Tensions flared at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday after Senator Natasha Akpoki Uduaghan publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating the confiscation of her international passport by immigration officials.
In a live video broadcast from the airport, Senator Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, said she was prevented from boarding her flight for a short vacation after marking her two years in office.
Visibly upset, the senator alleged that Akpabio had “personally instructed the Comptroller General of Immigration to withhold her passport,” describing the incident as “another act of political intimidation.”
“You have no right to withhold my passport,” Uduaghan was heard telling immigration officers in the video. “I have not committed any offense. You keep doing this to me all the time. The last time, I had to call someone influential before you released it. I’m not a criminal. I’m not a flight risk.”
Senator Uduaghan further claimed that her pending court cases had recently been withdrawn following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who reportedly ordered Akpabio and the Attorney General of the Federation to discontinue what he described as “politically motivated cases.”
“All my cases have been dropped on the President’s instruction because they were politically driven. There’s no justification for seizing my passport,” she stated.
As of press time, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) nor the office of the Senate President had issued an official response to the senator’s allegations.
Observers say the incident could deepen tensions within the Senate, where Uduaghan has been a vocal critic of the leadership.
The situation at the airport drew public attention as onlookers recorded parts of the confrontation, which quickly went viral on social media, sparking debates over alleged political interference and abuse of power.
