Senator Natasha Alleges Travel Restriction, ‘Fingers’ Akpabio

Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has alleged that her international passport has once again been withheld, preventing her from leaving the country.

The lawmaker made the claim during a live broadcast on Facebook on Tuesday morning, saying she was surprised by the development and insisting that there was no legal basis for the action.

Akpoti, who recently marked her second year in office, said she had planned to take a short break when she was informed that her travel documents were being held.

“Having completed the celebration of my second year, I decided to take a week off and my passport is being withheld again. The same thing happened,” she said.

The senator expressed frustration over what she described as a recurring harassment.

“I have committed no offence and there is no order from the court to seize my passport and deny me travelling,” she added.

‘Akpabio ordered seizure’ – Akpoti Claims

In the broadcast, Akpoti alleged that the directive to seize her passport came from the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, citing a previous encounter with immigration officials.

“The last time it happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from traveling,” she claimed.

She did not specify the location of the incident but indicated that it occurred at an airport checkpoint.

The senator noted that this was not the first time she had been prevented from travelling, recalling a similar experience months earlier.

Her recent allegation comes amid ongoing tensions in the National Assembly, where Akpoti has been a vocal critic of certain leadership decisions.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Office of the Senate President nor the Nigeria Immigration Service had issued an official statement in response to the senator’s allegations.

However, the development has sparked widespread discussions online, with many Nigerians calling for clarification from the authorities involved.

Senator Akpoti, elected in 2023 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly. She is known for her outspoken stance on governance and social justice issues.

Her latest allegation adds to a series of controversies surrounding the relationship between opposition lawmakers and Senate leadership, with observers calling for transparency in the handling of lawmakers’ rights and privileges.