…says it’s for routine check

The Nigeria Immigration Service has released the international passport of Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, after it was reportedly seized on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Service spokesperson, Akinsola Akinlabi, confirmed this just as he described the episode as a “routine check.”

“It is a routine check and she has been allowed to travel. It was an exercise that didn’t even take long,”

The Kogi lawmaker had taken to the social media her experience with the Immigration officials, fueling public outrage.

In a live Facebook broadcast she had alleged that the immigration officers were acting on instructions from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

She said:” Having completed the celebration of my second year, I decided to take a week off, and my passport is being withheld again. The same thing happened before.”

She maintained that there was no legal basis to impound her international passport as she had committed no crime to warrant such action of the Immigration officials.

“I have committed no offence, and there is no order from any court to seize my passport or deny me from travelling.”

The Immigration spokesperson however denied the involvement of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. He said: “Of course, not. What concerns immigration exercise with National Assembly matters?”

Checks revealed that the Kogi federal lawmaker resumed at plenary last month after serving six months suspension after she was indicted for breaching Senate rules by its Committee on Ethics.