*Accuses Senate President of Instructing Airport Officers to Embarrass Her
Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) have reportedly seized the passport of Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, preventing her from traveling abroad.
The Senator in a live video on Tuesday visibly upset alleged that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had instructed the officers to prevent her from leaving the country.
“Hello, fellow Nigerians. I’m Senator Natasha. Having completed my second year in office, I decided to take a week off.
“I’m at the airport and my passport is being withheld again.
“The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate president, Godwsill Akpabio instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from traveling because each time I travel out of the country I smear the country’s image by granting interviews in international media.
“You have no right to withhold my passport. You have no right to deny me exit and entry into my country. I have not committed any offense and this must stop and as a matter of fact I must sue you for continuously embarrassing me.
“Why are you doing this what have I committed?
The last time this happened, it had to take someone influential to call you to release my passport, that was what allowed me travel. Why am I making calls
“Is Godswill Akpabio so important? Why is he overruling boundaries?”
She stated that President Bola Tinubu had personally directed Akpabio to ensure all the cases against her were terminated.
“The President spoke to Godswill Akpabio to terminate all the cases against me because he admitted they were politically witch-hunting me.
“So, there is no reason why my passport should be withheld at the international airport. You have no right to that, madam,
“There is no court order. I have not missed any of my court appearances. I have attended all my court sessions. I am not a flight risk. I am not a risk to my country. So why are you treating me like a criminal? Can I have my passport, please?” She said
Shortly after, one of the immigration officers was seen in the video returning her passport back to her.
As at press time, Akpabio’s office and the NIS are yet to respond to the allegations.