NIS Breaks Silence on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Airport Incident

• The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that her passport was seized at the airport, insisting that the encounter was part of normal immigration procedures and that she was eventually cleared to travel.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has denied allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, that its officers seized her passport at an airport in a purported attempt to stop her from travelling.

The NIS spokesperson, Akinsola Akinlabi, clarified the situation on Tuesday in a statement to Channels Television, explaining that the senator was only subjected to routine immigration checks and was later allowed to proceed with her journey.

“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 further emphasized that the officers involved were performing their statutory duties, which sometimes require temporarily holding passports for verification purposes.

“The 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 added.

DON’T MISS: Grab Govt Land, Go to Jail for 10 Years — Okpebholo Signs New Edo Property Law

Akinlabi also noted that the senator’s viral video was recorded during the verification process, not after clearance, and that she failed to share an update once the situation was resolved.

“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.

When asked whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had resisted handing over her passport for inspection, the spokesperson said he could not confirm that detail but reaffirmed that immigration officers are authorised to temporarily collect passports during checks.

“They must return them once done, which they did,” he concluded.

The incident has sparked public discussion online, with many Nigerians debating the fine line between security protocols and political intimidation, especially involving public office holders.