The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, that its officers withheld her passport at the airport to stop her from travelling abroad.
NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi told Channels Television on Tuesday, November 4, that the incident was simply part of normal immigration checks.
“NIS didn’t seize the distinguished senator’s passport, but rather she went through routine immigration checks and was allowed to travel,” Akinlabi said.
He explained that the officers involved were only carrying out their legal duties.
“The NIS officers needed to conduct their checks. They may take your passport to do so, but that doesn’t mean it was seized as alleged.
“She has since been allowed to travel. Perhaps while waiting for the checks to be completed, she assumed she was being stopped from travelling,” he said.
According to Akinlabi, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recorded her viral video during the routine checks but did not later post an update after she was cleared to fly.
“She has travelled since then. The video was made while she was going through the checks, not after. The passport was never seized,” he clarified.
READ ALSO: My Passport Seized Again to Bar Me From Travelling — Senator Natasha
When asked whether the senator had resisted handing over her passport for inspection, Akinlabi said, “I don’t know about that. But the officers conducting the checks are authorised to collect passports for verification and must return them once done, which they did.”
Earlier that morning, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan livestreamed the encounter on her Facebook page, claiming immigration officials had unlawfully stopped her from leaving the country.
“Having completed my second-year celebration, I decided to take a week off. I’m at the airport, and my passport has been withheld again. Have I committed any offence? Why are you withholding my passport?” she said to the officials during the broadcast.
“This is wrong. There was no order. Yes, I know I have two federal government cases against me, of which the president of Nigeria instructed the AGF to cancel the cases, to withdraw the cases,” she continued, clearly distressed.
The senator, visibly angry, threatened legal action against the immigration service.
“You have no right to withhold my passport or deny me exit from my country. I have committed no offence, and this must stop.
“I think I have to sue you for continuously embarrassing me. You can’t keep doing this every time. You are taking the law into your hands. 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?” she said.
A few minutes later, one of the immigration officers handed the passport back to her.
“Can I have my passport, please? Thank you very much. Sometimes you just have to be a rebel to get things right. If I had not gone public, would you have given me my passport?” the senator asked as officers nearby were heard apologising and trying to calm her down.