Following public backlash the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on Tuesday returned the travel passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was blocked by officials of NIS from traveling on Tuesday morning.
Following the development, the lawmaker raised alarm after officials stopped her at the airport and withheld the document.
The incident triggered public backlash and immediate reactions online.
The controversial lawmaker, who accused immigration officers of acting without any legal grounds, also went live to express her frustration and to call out those she believed were responsible.
READ ALSO: Senate Will Remain Accountable And Responsive-AKPABIO
“I have committed no offence and there is no order from the court to withhold my passport and deny me travelling…” she said in a viral video, insisting the act was targeted and politically motivated.
According to her, the same situation happened to her previously, her passport was only released the last time after a powerful intervention.
Natasha, who questioned the authority behind the action, said “Now again, you’re withholding my passport… Is Godswin Akpabio so important? Why is he overruling boundaries?” she stated, accusing the Senate President of ordering the seizure to stop her from travelling.
The senator, while insisting that she has no pending court travel restrictions and has always honoured her cases, also added that that neither the courts nor federal authorities placed a travel ban on her.
“I am not a flight risk… So why are you treating me like a criminal?” she said.
The senator, who recently marked her second year in office, described the situation as harassment meant to intimidate her politically.
Minutes after the video gained massive attention, immigration officials released the passport.
“If I had not gone public, would you have given me my passport,” she added, suggesting that the public pressure forced compliance.
