Immigration

The officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have seized the international passport of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Akpoti-Uduaghan disclosed this in a video shared on social media on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Speaking in the video, the senator said her international passport is being withheld by Immigration officers, preventing her from travelling abroad.

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The lawmaker, who was visibly angry at the situation, said there was no court order directing the NIS officers to withhold her international passport.

Immigration officers seize Natasha’s passport at Abuja airport

Akpoti-Uduaghan said: “Have I committed any offence? Why are you withholding my passport? I’m at the airport and my passport is being withheld again. There is no order from the court to withhold my passport.

“The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling.”

It would be recalled that NIS officers, in July 2025, seized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s passport at the airport while on her way to board a British Airways flight to London.

After a drama, the senator’s passport was returned without any formal explanation, allowing her to swiftly proceed through immigration and board her flight.

The Star

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