Akpabio Ordered My Passport Seized at Airport to Stop Me From Traveling — Senator Natasha Akpoti Alleges
By Passman Akpos
In a startling revelation, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of orchestrating the seizure of her international passport by security operatives at a Nigerian airport, allegedly to prevent her from traveling abroad.
According to Akpoti, the incident occurred earlier this morning when she attempted to board a flight but was stopped by immigration officials who claimed they had “orders from above” to confiscate her travel document.
“I was shocked when immigration officers told me the directive came directly from the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. They said they were instructed not to allow me to leave the country,” Akpoti alleged in a statement released on Tuesday.
The senator from Kogi Central described the act as “an abuse of power and a clear attempt to intimidate and silence a vocal lawmaker.”
She further called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant security agencies to investigate what she termed “a politically motivated act of harassment.”
Efforts to reach Senate President Akpabio’s office for comment were unsuccessful as of press time. However, a senior aide to the Senate President, who asked not to be named, dismissed the allegation as “baseless and politically charged.”
The incident has sparked reactions across social media, with many Nigerians condemning what they described as the increasing politicization of security institutions.
Observers note that this is not the first time Senator Akpoti has raised concerns about political persecution, having previously alleged targeted attacks during her 2023 election campaign.
As pressure mounts for an official explanation, civil rights groups are demanding transparency from the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Office of the Comptroller General, urging them to clarify under what authority the passport seizure occurred.
