A tense scene unfolded early Thursday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) personnel briefly seized the international passport of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as she sought to board a British Airways flight to London.
Eyewitnesses report that the senator, accompanied by her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, was flagged by immigration officers and informed she had been placed on a “national security risk” or “watch list” prior to boarding . The stop caused a momentary delay and raised confusion among travelers.
During the incident, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remained composed and asserted her legal rights, reportedly telling officers:
“The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,”
At one point, her husband was seen making urgent phone calls as the delay persisted. No formal explanation was provided by officials, and it remains unclear who placed the senator on the watch list, though sources within the airport indicated that the directive to seize her travel documents originated from the Controller General of Immigration, reportedly acting on instructions from the Senate President’s office.
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The standoff continued for several minutes before the passport was returned quietly, still without any explanation, allowing the senator to finalize her immigration procedures and board her flight just in time. No official statements have emerged from the NIS or the Senate President’s office regarding the incident.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was reportedly travelling for her stepson’s graduation. The interruption occurred as she continues to challenge her suspension from the Senate, and her travel restrictions sparked renewed public debate about her legal and political status
This incident has ignited discussions on due process and political interference, with many Nigerians awaiting clarification from immigration authorities and the Senate leadership.