Senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have again seized her international passport, preventing her from travelling out of the country.
The lawmaker made the allegation during a live broadcast on Facebook on Tuesday morning.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was stopped at the airport when she attempted to travel for a short break after marking her second year in the Senate.
“Having completed the celebration of my second year, I decided to take a week off and my passport is being withheld again,” she said.
“I have committed no offence, and there is no order from the court to seize my passport or stop me from travelling.”
The senator alleged that the seizure was carried out on the instruction of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President 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,” she added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was seen in the live video questioning immigration officers at the airport counter and demanding the return of her passport.
Neither the NIS nor the office of the Senate President has commented on the allegation as of the time of filing this report.
This is the second time in recent months that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s travel has been disrupted.
In July, she was briefly stopped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after immigration officials said her name appeared on a watch list.
She was later cleared to travel after being held for nearly an hour.
The senator has had a running dispute with the Senate leadership, including allegations of harassment against the Senate President, which he denied.
She has also faced two defamation cases filed by the federal government.
