Immigration withholds, releases Natasha Akpoti’s passport at Abuja airport

Natasha

A mild drama unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday morning after immigration officials held on to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s passport — for perhaps a little longer than necessary.

Afterwards, the senator representing Kogi central alleged that her passport was seized by airport officials on the orders of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Kogi lawmaker made the allegation in a live Facebook broadcast.

A visibly enraged Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was prevented from boarding the aircraft despite having committed no offence or receiving any court order restricting her movement.

She described the act as an “embarrassment” and called for the immediate release of her travel document.

“My passport has been withheld again,” she said.

“The same thing happened last time when I was prevented from travelling. I have committed no offence and there is no court order stopping me.”

According to her, an official told her that Akpabio instructed security personnel at the airport to seize her passport each time she attempts to leave the country.

“The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio had instructed them to seize my passport and stop me from travelling because, according to him, each time I travel abroad, I ‘smear the country’s image’ by granting interviews to international media,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan faulted what she described as “an abuse of power”, accusing Akpabio of overreaching his authority and undermining her rights as a citizen.