Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was briefly stopped at Abuja airport over watch list concerns.
Immigration later cleared her for UK trip after confirming no court order barred her travel.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan faced a brief travel hitch at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday morning when immigration officers temporarily prevented her from boarding a flight to the United Kingdom.
The senator, who was travelling alongside her husband, was reportedly en route to attend her stepson’s graduation ceremony abroad. However, immigration officials at the airport informed her that her name appeared on a travel watch list.
Sources familiar with the situation said the watch list entry allegedly stemmed from a directive tied to the leadership of the National Assembly. Officers reportedly told Akpoti-Uduaghan she was flagged as a potential flight risk.
The situation caused some confusion and delay at the airport, especially as associates close to the senator insisted there was no existing court order barring her from leaving the country. They also noted that she had consistently attended all of her court sessions when required.
After nearly an hour and several phone calls, officials eventually released her passport and gave her clearance to board the flight. She was then able to continue her journey without further incident.
