Drama unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday morning after immigration officials allegedly withheld the passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central.

The senator, who was reportedly on her way out of the country, took to social media to share her experience in a live video that quickly went viral. In the clip, she alleged that officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) informed her that they were acting on orders from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, no official reason or court order was presented for the seizure. “I have committed no offence, and there is no court order restricting my travel,” she said during the livestream. “Why are you preventing my movement?” she asked one of the officers.

The NIS officials reportedly returned the passport after about 20 minutes of back-and-forth questioning. The senator described the incident as “embarrassing” and claimed it was politically motivated.

Growing Tension in the National Assembly

The development has sparked widespread public reaction, with many Nigerians expressing outrage over the alleged abuse of power. The senator’s supporters described the incident as another attempt to silence a vocal lawmaker known for challenging corruption and promoting transparency.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has had a history of tense relations with certain members of the Senate leadership. Earlier this year, she raised concerns about alleged intimidation within the chamber, a claim the leadership denied.

So far, neither the Senate President’s office nor the Nigerian Immigration Service has issued an official statement regarding the incident. Calls and messages sent to their spokespersons were not immediately returned.

The video from the airport has since gone viral across major social media platforms, drawing comments from political observers, legal analysts, and rights advocates. Several civil society organizations have called for an investigation, insisting that freedom of movement remains a constitutional right.

As of press time, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that she had retrieved her passport and was consulting her legal team on possible next steps.