Immigration officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja briefly detained suspended Senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday morning while trying to board a flight to the United Kingdom.
Naijaonpoint learnt that Natasha was reportedly stopped and told she could not travel because her name had been placed on a watch list at the request of the leadership of the National Assembly.
According to The Premium Times, a family member who confirmed the incident said Natasha was travelling with her husband to attend the graduation ceremony of her stepson in the UK when immigration officers blocked her at the departure terminal.
The family source said, “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.”
Witnesses who spoke to the aforementioned publication said the Senator protested the travel restriction and was seen making several telephone calls to senior immigration and government officials.
Natasha was cleared to board her British Airways flight, but after nearly an hour, she was stopped at the airport.
One witness said., “Her passport was eventually stamped and she was allowed to proceed.”
Recall that the Kogi Senator had been challenging her suspension by the Senate after she openly protested the change of her seating position.
Natasha had also accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
However, Akpabio has denied the allegation.