Immigration Denies Blocking Natasha’s Trip, Says Screening Was ‘Routine’

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has refuted claims that it prevented Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator for Kogi Central, from traveling abroad.

In a Facebook video earlier on Tuesday, the Senator had claimed that immigration officials seized her passport at an airport, preventing her from travelling abroad. She blamed the situation on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with whom she has an estranged working relationship.

But the Public Relations Officer of NIS, Mr. Akinsola Akinlabi, dismissed the Senator’s claim, describing the episode as a ‘routine check’.

‘It is a routine check, and she has been allowed to travel. It was an exercise that didn’t even take long, Akinlabi said.

Asked whether there was a directive from the Senate President, the NIS spokesperson expressed surprise.

‘Of course, not. What concerns immigration exercise with National Assembly matters? he queried.

In her Facebook post, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan had said: ‘The officer in charge told me that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling because he claimed that each time I go abroad, I “spoil the image of the country” by granting interviews to international media”‘.

The legislator was involved in a high-profile dispute with Akpabio in February over seat reallocation in the Senate, which escalated into her six-month suspension, effective 6 March 2025. She also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

She, however, resumed her duties on 24 September 2025.

Since her return, she has resumed full participation in legislative business, including sponsoring amendments to the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill 2025 last week.