A mild drama unfolded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport in Abuja on Tuesday morning after immigration officials held on to
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s passport for perhaps a little longer than
necessary.
Afterwards, the senator representing Kogi central alleged
that her passport was seized by airport officials on the orders of Senate
President Godswill Akpabio.
The Kogi lawmaker made the allegation in a live Facebook
broadcast.
A visibly enraged Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was prevented
from boarding the aircraft despite having committed no offence or receiving any
court order restricting her movement.
She described the act as an “embarrassment” and called for
the immediate release of her travel document.
“My passport has been withheld again,” she said.
“The same thing happened last time when I was prevented from
travelling. I have committed no offence and there is no court order stopping
me.”
According to her, an official told her that Akpabio
instructed security personnel at the airport to seize her passport each time
she attempts to leave the country.
“The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us
that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio had instructed them to seize my
passport and stop me from travelling because, according to him, each time I
travel abroad, I ‘smear the country’s image’ by granting interviews to
international media,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan faulted what she described as “an abuse of
power”, accusing Akpabio of overreaching his authority and undermining her
rights as a citizen.
“Why is he overruling boundaries?” she asked.
“You have no right to withhold my passport or stop me from
travelling in and out of my own country.
“Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president, has instructed the
Comptroller-General of Customs to deny me exit and to withhold my passport.
This is wrong. There is no such order.”
She noted that the presidency had earlier directed the
attorney-general of the federation to withdraw two “politically motivated”
cases against her, adding that there was “no justification for the continued
harassment”.
“The president himself instructed that the cases be
withdrawn after admitting they were politically driven,” she said.
“So there is no reason why my passport should still be
seized.”
The senator said she had never missed a court appearance and
had always complied with all legal processes, insisting she is not a flight
risk.
“I have attended every court session. I am not a risk to my
country,” she added. “Why treat me like a criminal?”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also vowed to seek legal redress over what
she described as repeated “acts of humiliation by airport authorities”.
“As a matter of fact, I may have to sue for this continuous
embarrassment,” she said.
“Sometimes, you just have to be a rebel to make things
right.”
The passport was later handed over to her in the video by
one of the immigration officers.
Jackson Udom, special assistant on media to the senate
president, was not immediately available for a reaction when TheCable contacted
him via WhatsApp and phone calls.
AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, AKPABIO RIFT
On February 20, Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged Akpabio in a heated
debate over seating arrangements in the upper legislative chamber.
She later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment — a claim the
senate president denied.
On March 6, the senate suspended her for six months
following the adoption of the report by the committee on ethics, privileges,
and public petitions.
Since her return to the legislative chamber on September 24
after serving the suspension, the senator has gradually returned to the
business of lawmaking.
On Monday, the female
senator said fear of political persecution prevented many of her colleagues
from openly identifying with her during the suspension.
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