The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has returned the international passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after a dramatic standoff at a Nigerian airport sparked widespread outrage and accusations of political persecution.
The senator, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, had earlier gone live on social media to accuse immigration officers of unlawfully seizing her passport on the alleged orders of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She said the officers detained her for over 20 minutes without explanation and refused to let her travel.
In a tense video streamed live, the visibly upset lawmaker confronted the officers, insisting that she had not committed any offence.
“I have committed no offence and there is no order from any court to seize my passport,” she said. “The last time this happened, the officer told us that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, instructed them to withhold my passport because he claimed I was damaging the country’s image whenever I travelled abroad.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan continued: “You have no right to deny me exit or entrance into my country. I am a citizen of Nigeria. I have not committed any crime. This continuous embarrassment must stop. I may have to sue you for harassment.”
Her emotional appeal quickly went viral, drawing sharp reactions from citizens and rights advocates who described the incident as another sign of growing intolerance for dissent in government circles.
The senator said it was not the first time her passport had been confiscated. She recalled a similar encounter months earlier in which her travel documents were seized and only returned after the intervention of a powerful official.
“I’ve been standing here for over 20 minutes. Why are you doing this again?” she asked the immigration officer. “The last time, it took someone influential to call before my passport was released. Is Akpabio above the law? Why is he overruling boundaries?”
According to her, the repeated harassment stemmed from her outspoken criticism of powerful politicians and her insistence on transparency in governance.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also alleged that her political opponents had previously sponsored false corruption charges against her, which President Bola Tinubu had personally ordered to be withdrawn after acknowledging they were politically motivated.
“I have two cases against me, but the President directed the Attorney-General to withdraw them because he agreed they were acts of political witch-hunting,” she said. “So, there is no reason for my passport to be withheld. I have attended all my court sessions. I am not a flight risk.”
Moments after her protest video flooded social media platforms, the NIS released her passport.
“If I hadn’t gone public, would you have released it?” she asked as she retrieved her travel document.
While the Immigration Service has yet to issue an official statement, senior officials privately confirmed that the passport had been returned “to de-escalate the situation.”
The episode quickly drew condemnation from civil society groups and political commentators, who said it reflected a troubling misuse of state power for partisan purposes. Many Nigerians also praised the senator for her courage in confronting what they described as institutional intimidation.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a lawyer and entrepreneur, has built a reputation for challenging political dominance in Kogi State. Her election in 2023 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came after years of legal battles and violent political confrontations in her senatorial district.
In 2019, she contested for the Kogi Central Senate seat but lost amid allegations of electoral violence and manipulation. After multiple court cases, she emerged victorious in 2023, becoming one of the few female senators in the current National Assembly.
Known for her advocacy for women’s rights and grassroots development, Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently spoken against corruption, poor governance, and the marginalisation of women in Nigerian politics. Her fiery speeches and fearlessness have made her both admired and controversial in equal measure.
Political analysts say her recent troubles may not be unconnected to her open criticism of top figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including Senate President Akpabio, whom she has repeatedly accused of using his position to target perceived opponents.
Incidents like this have become common in Nigeria’s fraught political landscape, where opposition voices often allege intimidation through arrests, passport seizures, or travel restrictions.
In recent years, several politicians and activists—including former lawmaker Dino Melaye, human rights campaigner Omoyele Sowore, and journalist Agba Jalingo—have complained of being stopped at airports or having their travel documents seized under unclear circumstances.
Legal experts say such actions violate the constitutional right of every Nigerian to freedom of movement, except when restricted by a valid court order.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, reacting online, described the alleged seizure as “an abuse of power that undermines democratic principles.” He said no immigration officer or political leader has the authority to restrict a citizen’s movement without due process.
The timing of the incident, observers say, raises questions about internal tensions within the Senate and the ruling party. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s increasing popularity and her bold stance on national issues have reportedly unsettled some political heavyweights.
Just two weeks ago, the senator delivered a speech at a women’s conference in Abuja where she criticised the exclusion of female lawmakers from key leadership positions in the National Assembly.
“We can’t talk about national progress while half the population is excluded from decision-making,” she said. “Equality must begin in Parliament.”
Her comments were widely shared online and were seen by some as a veiled criticism of Akpabio’s leadership style.
Following the uproar, several Nigerians have demanded that the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service investigate the matter and make their findings public.
Civil society organisations such as the Centre for Democratic Accountability (CDA) and Women Advocates Forum (WAF) have also called on President Tinubu to ensure that security agencies are not used to persecute opposition politicians.
“The arbitrary seizure of passports is a throwback to the military era. The government must not allow such abuses to reoccur under a democratic administration,” the CDA said in a statement.
The senator’s ordeal has once again reignited debate about how much political influence senior officials wield over independent agencies in Nigeria. Analysts argue that the growing perception of partisanship among security and immigration agencies undermines public confidence and weakens democratic institutions.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, the confrontation has only strengthened her resolve to keep speaking out.
“Sometimes, you just have to be a rebel to get things right,” she said. “You keep asking Nigerians to be good citizens, yet those in authority keep breaking the law.”
As she walked away from the airport terminal clutching her passport, supporters cheered online, hailing her as a symbol of courage in the face of power.
Whether the latest drama marks the end of her troubles—or the beginning of a deeper political battle—remains to be seen. But for now, her public defiance has once again brought national attention to the uneasy intersection of power, gender, and justice in Nigeria’s democracy.
