Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was briefly detained by immigration officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday while attempting to board a flight to the United Kingdom.
According to ConfirmNews the senator was travelling in the company of her husband to attend the graduation ceremony of her stepson in the UK when immigration personnel informed her that her name had been placed on a security watch list, temporarily halting her travel plans.
The incident sparked concerns as it comes amid rising tensions between the lawmaker and the leadership of the Nigerian Senate.
Senator Natasha has been in the spotlight after openly protesting the reassignment of her seat in the Senate chamber—an act that led to her controversial suspension from legislative activities.
In a further escalation, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim he has publicly denied, dismissing it as “baseless and politically motivated.”
While the full reason for the airport stop remains unclear, sources say Senator Natasha was released shortly after and allowed to proceed with her travel. Her legal team is reportedly seeking clarification on the watchlist designation.
Attempts to reach officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
This developing story adds a new layer of controversy to what is fast becoming a high-profile political standoff between the embattled senator and Nigeria’s Senate leadership.
