Renewed Political Drama at Abuja Airport
A fresh wave of political controversy erupted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport NAIA Abuja after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District alleged that her international passport was momentarily seized by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service NIS The high-profile incident which the Senator broadcast live on social media quickly reignited public discourse with the outspoken lawmaker pointing an accusatory finger directly at the Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the orchestrator of the alleged harassment .
The Senators Allegation An Order from the Senate President
The incident occurred as Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was preparing to board an international flight having completed her second year in office and planned to take a short break In a visibly agitated Facebook Live video the Senator confronted the immigration officials demanding to know the reason for withholding her travel document She repeatedly described the action as unlawful politically motivated and a gross violation of her fundamental rights as a Nigerian citizen .
Crucially the Senator claimed that this was not the first time she had faced such an ordeal Recounting a similar incident that occurred just months prior she alleged that an officer had previously informed her that the instruction to restrict her movement came from the Senate President himself .
My passport has been withheld again The same thing happened before when I was stopped from travelling even though I had committed no offence and there was no court order restricting me she stated firmly 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 because he said each time I travel out of the country I spoil the countrys image by granting interviews to international media .
The Senator stressed that she had not missed any court appearances and was not a flight risk questioning the motive behind treating her like a criminal She went on to claim that the harassment persisted despite President Bola Tinubu allegedly directing the Attorney General of the Federation AGF to withdraw previous politically motivated cases against her .
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Immigration Service Counters Dismissing Allegations as Routine Check
In a swift counter-response the Nigerian Immigration Service NIS outright denied the allegation of seizing the Senators passport or acting under any political directive .
Speaking to journalists the spokesperson for the NIS Akinsola Akinlabi described the entire episode as nothing more than a standard routine immigration check that is applicable to all transiting passengers at the airport .
- NIS Stance Akinlabi maintained that no order had been issued to seize her passport .
- The Procedure He clarified that immigration officers are authorized to take passports for verification as part of their statutory duties but that this process does not constitute a seizure .
- Resolution The spokesperson confirmed that after the brief check the Senators travel document was returned and she was cleared to proceed with her journey further suggesting that the live video was captured during the checking process and not after its resolution .
When pressed on the Senators specific allegation concerning a directive from the Senate President the NIS spokesperson expressed surprise and queried the basis for the claim stating Of course not What concerns immigration exercise with National Assembly matters .
Background of Political Rift
The Abuja airport drama occurs against the backdrop of a long-standing high-profile political conflict between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership particularly Senate President Akpabio .
- Previous Suspension The Senator was previously suspended from the Senate for six months in March of the same year following a confrontation with the Senate leadership over seating arrangements which was adopted after a recommendation by the Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions .
- Controversial Return Her return to the Senate in September and subsequent full engagement in legislative activities have been under intense political scrutiny with observers noting the lingering tension between her and the leadership .
The latest airport confrontation has therefore been widely interpreted as a new escalation in the ongoing political feud raising significant questions about the use of state security and immigration agencies in intra-party political squabbles and the protection of the fundamental rights of lawmakers While the Senator vowed to seek legal redress over the continuous embarrassment the NIS insists that its officials were merely performing their mandatory checks The incident has now been added to a growing list of controversies surrounding power dynamics within Nigerias legislative arm .
Dynamic Disclaimer Requirement
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources including the direct claims made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the official denial from the Nigerian Immigration Service Readers should cross-check updates and official statements from official news outlets and government agencies for the most current and verified details .