Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central was on Thursday briefly stopped by immigration officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while attempting to travel to the United Kingdom.
Senator Natasha was said to have been flagged during routine checks at the departure terminal.
She was reportedly informed that her name was on a watch list, which temporarily prevented her from boarding her scheduled flight.
Sources familiar with the incident said Akpoti-Uduaghan was travelling with her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, to attend the graduation ceremony of her stepson in the UK.
After being held up for nearly an hour, she was eventually cleared to board the flight.
The development has sparked concerns among her associates, especially as it comes amid her ongoing rift with the Senate leadership.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had in recent weeks openly criticised decisions made by the upper legislative chamber and accused Senate president Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation he denied.
She has also been at the centre of two defamation cases reportedly filed by the federal government.
Her suspension from the Senate earlier this year triggered widespread reactions and drew attention to internal tensions in the National Assembly.
According to a relative who spoke on condition of anonymity, the senator had not missed any court date and was unaware of any travel restriction prior to the incident.
Witnesses at the airport said Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared surprised when informed of the travel flag and made several calls to officials in an attempt to resolve the issue.
Her passport was later stamped and she boarded her flight with no further issues.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has yet to release a formal statement on the matter.
A spokesperson for the agency, Akinsola Akinlabi, said the service would respond after obtaining the full details of what transpired.
