In a new twist to the ongoing rift between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central has accused Akpabio of allegedly ordering immigration officials to seize her international passport, preventing her from leaving the country.
In a video shared online, Natasha could be seen at the airport confronting immigration officers, visibly upset over what she described as an “unlawful restriction” of her freedom of movement. “Hello, fellow Nigerians. I’m Senator Natasha. Having completed my second year in office, I decided to take a week off. I’m at the airport here, and my passport has been withheld again,” she said.
The senator claimed that the officers told her they were acting on instructions from Senate President Akpabio, who allegedly accused her of tarnishing Nigeria’s image whenever she travels abroad for media interviews. “He said I spoil the image of the country. But I’ve done nothing wrong,” she added, expressing frustration over what she called repeated harassment and intimidation.
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Immigration Service nor Akpabio’s office had released a statement addressing the allegation.
This isn’t the first time Senator Natasha has accused the Senate President of targeting her. Earlier in May, she petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, alleging that Akpabio orchestrated a smear campaign to silence her sexual harassment claims against him. Her petition, backed by what her legal team described as “incontrovertible evidence,” detailed threats, online defamation, and even an alleged assassination attempt.
The documents also linked Akpabio to a U.S.-based Nigerian, Dr. Sandra Chidinma Duru, known online as “Prof. Mgbeke,” who allegedly ran coordinated social media attacks against the senator. According to Natasha, Duru’s leaked phone logs contained contacts saved under names like “Senator Akpabio” and “IGP Kayode,” fueling suspicions of direct involvement.
The situation has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for an impartial investigation into the alleged abuse of power. Many Nigerians online have demanded transparency, urging the authorities to ensure that no public office is used to intimidate or silence dissenting voices.
For Senator Natasha, this latest incident marks another chapter in what she calls a “battle for truth and justice”—one that, she insists, she’s ready to fight to the very end.
