UK-Bound Natasha Detained Briefly At Abuja Airport

A top senior official at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has refuted reports that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s international passport was initially seized at the airport, describing the encounter as part of a routine clearance process for politically-exposed persons (PEPs).

The source at the NIS headquarters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that there was no truth to claims that the senator was not at any point prevented from travelling.

“There was no seizure of her passport. What happened was a standard protocol we follow for individuals classified as politically exposed persons. These checks are routine and lawful,” the source said.

The source further questioned the motive behind the circulating reports, emphasising that the Senator had already travelled abroad, which would not have been possible if her passport had been confiscated.

“If we had seized her passport, how would she have left the country? The facts speak for themselves. This is an unwarranted attempt to discredit the Immigration Service,” the official added.

He reiterated that the agency’s processes are impartial and guided strictly by national security and administrative procedures.

“People need to understand that scrutiny at ports of entry and exit is part of our job, especially for public officials. It’s about accountability and security, not politics.”

“As a politically exposed person, Senator Natasha underwent the standard clearance process. This is routine, not an act of intimidation or targeting.”

On the false seizure claims, “There was no sort of seizure, no restriction. The Senator travelled out of the country as scheduled,” he said,

On defending the agency’s integrity, the top source said, “These allegations are not only baseless but also an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Nigeria Immigration Service.”

Earlier, on Wednesday morning, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s international passport was briefly seized by Nigerian immigration officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, causing a momentary travel scare before she eventually boarded a British Airways flight to London.

Eyewitnesses at the airport said the senator, representing Kogi Central, arrived at the international terminal with her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, only to be stopped by immigration officials who flagged her as a “national security risk.” The incident occurred in the early hours of July 24, 2025, just before boarding commenced for the London-bound flight.

Travellers reported that Senator Natasha remained calm and composed throughout the ordeal, insisting that the officers had no legal authority to seize her passport. “The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she was overheard telling the officers, while urging them to allow her to proceed.

It was believed that the directive to hold her travel documents was issued from above. No official explanation was provided to the senator at the time of the seizure, further fueling suspicions of political interference.

Chief Uduaghan was seen making a series of urgent phone calls as the delay dragged on. Minutes later, the senator’s passport was returned without any formal explanation, allowing her to swiftly proceed through immigration and board her flight just in time.

The incident has sparked quiet murmurs of concern over the use of security agencies for political purposes, with observers describing the situation as an unnecessary embarrassment and a potential abuse of institutional power.

Neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the office of the Senate President has issued a statement on the matter.