Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was briefly blocked by immigration officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja yesterday morning while trying to board a flight to the United Kingdom.
According to reports, she was travelling with her husband to attend her stepson’s graduation ceremony abroad. Airport officials allegedly told the senator that her name had been placed on a travel watch list, which reportedly came at the request of the National Assembly leadership.
She was informed that she had been flagged as a potential flight risk. The travel delay stirred confusion at the airport.
According to people close to the matter, there was no court ruling restricting her movement, and she has always been present at her court proceedings.
After several calls and nearly an hour of delay, her passport which was earlier siezed, was cleared, and she was allowed to proceed with her trip. The senator is expected to return to Nigeria in two weeks.
Recall that the Senator had vowed to return to court after being denied access to the National Assembly complex despite a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension from the Senate.
The Kogi-Central lawmaker arrived at the National Assembly on Tuesday, with the intention of resuming her legislative duties. However, she was stopped by security officials at the entrance, who claimed they were acting on orders. The senator described the incident as a violation of the court judgment, which she says clearly ordered her reinstatement.
Reacting to the blockade, Natasha announced plans to meet with her legal team to seek further court intervention.
