The Senator representing Kogi State at the national assembly Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was on Thursday briefly detained by immigration officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while trying to board a flight to the United Kingdom, to attend the graduation ceremony of her stepson.
Penpushing reports that sources said the federal lawmaker was reportedly stopped and told she could not travel because her name had been placed on a watch list — allegedly at the request of the leadership of the National Assembly.
The source who is a family member of the Senator and was in the know of the incident said the Senator was travelling with her husband when immigration officers blocked her at the departure terminal.
“She was told that the leadership of the National Assembly requested that she be considered a flight risk and placed on a watch list. We are wondering why they treated her that way, given there is no court order restricting her movement and she has never missed any of her court appearances’, the family member stated
Penpushing further reports that the incident caused a brief stir at the airport, while it is recalled that growing tensions have been between the senator and the leadership of the National Assembly.
The eyewitness account has it that the senator protested the travel restriction and was seen making several frantic telephone calls to senior immigration and government officials.
Penpushing also reports that the account has it that after nearly an hour, she was cleared to board her British Airways flight, with her passport was eventually stamped and she was allowed to proceed on the trip.
The Senator when contacted shortly before takeoff, confirmed the incident to but declined to provide details, stating that the aircraft was about to take off, just as her family member said they hoped she would not be subjected to a similar ordeal when she returns to Nigeria in two weeks.
Penpushing reports that as at the time of filing this report Immigration authorities are yet to make and official statement on the matter, while the service spokesperson , Akinsola Akinlabi, said he would revert once he obtains details of the incident.
The Senator is challenging the Senate’s recent decision to suspend her from her position after she openly protested the change of her seating position, and later accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment, an allegation Akpabio denied.
Penpushing further reports that the Nigerian Government has equally filed two criminal defamation cases against the Senator, while she has accused key figures in the Senate of orchestrating a witch-hunt, and her associates believe Thursday’s incident may be connected to that ongoing political confrontation.
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