Natasha Akpoti: Immigration told me at airport I couldn’t leave Nigeria — then cleared me

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, says immigration officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, initially stopped her from travelling out of the country before later clearing her to proceed.

Premium Times reported that the senator was briefly held by operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Thursday morning while attempting to board a British Airways flight to London.

In a message to TheCable, Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed the incident, stating that while her husband’s passport was processed and released, hers was withheld without explanation.

“I confirm the incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport today, the 24th day of July 2025,” her message reads.

“My husband and I submitted our passports for outward processing, but only my husband’s was stamped and released to him, while mine was held.

“When I questioned why my passport was withheld, I was told it was system-flagged by the orders of the comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Services. That I’m not to fly out of Nigeria.”

The lawmaker said her passport was eventually returned after about 30 minutes, and she was allowed to board her flight.

“I caught the flight and [I’m] airborne to London now,” she added.

When TheCable contacted Akinsola Akinlabi, assistant comptroller of immigration and spokesperson for the NIS, he described what transpired at the airport as a “standard procedure”.

Akinlabi said the service would issue a detailed statement on the matter later.

The incident comes 48 hours after Akpoti-Uduaghan made an attempt to return to the national assembly after she cited a court judgement as grounds for resuming her legislative duties.

She is currently challenging her suspension from the senate after protesting a change in her seating position.

The senator later accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—a claim he has strongly denied.

In addition, the federal government has filed two criminal defamation suits against her.