“They Seized My Passport Again!” — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Accuses Senate President Akpabio and Immigration Boss Kemi Nandap of Orchestrating Passport Confiscation at Abuja Airport

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Tension flared once again at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday morning as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, of ordering the seizure of her passport in an alleged politically motivated act.

In a Facebook live video that quickly went viral, the senator narrated that her passport was seized by immigration officers on the direct instructions of Kemi Nandap, allegedly acting under Akpabio’s orders.

“Again, my international passport was seized at the Abuja International Airport’s immigration by the orders of Kemi Nandap, the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration, upon the instructions of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio,” Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said during the live broadcast. The senator explained that the incident occurred just as she was preparing to travel abroad, and she was informed that the order came from the top.

However, shortly after she went live on Facebook and the video gained massive online attention, her passport was stamped and released back to her.

“The passport was stamped and released to me shortly after I went live on my Facebook page,” she added.

The episode quickly ignited public outrage on social media, with thousands of Nigerians accusing government officials of abusing power and using state institutions to silence outspoken lawmakers.

Many described the situation as an attempt to intimidate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has previously clashed with Akpabio over issues of alleged misconduct and harassment in the Senate.

Observers have noted that this latest confrontation deepens the ongoing political tension between the Kogi senator and the Senate leadership.

Earlier this year, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had raised concerns about targeted attacks and politically motivated cases, some of which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had reportedly ordered to be dropped.

Despite the swift return of her passport, the senator questioned the legality of the action, emphasizing that no court order currently restricts her from traveling.

“This is a clear abuse of power. In a democracy, you don’t seize a lawmaker’s passport without due process. I am a serving senator, not a fugitive,” she said.

As of press time, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) nor the Office of the Senate President has issued an official response to the allegations.

Meanwhile, the story continues to trend online as netizens demand accountability.