By Nora Inwang, Abuja
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to withdraw all cases filed against her, she was recently prevented from leaving the country by immigration officials.
The senator representing Kogi Central made the revelation during a live broadcast on her Facebook page on Tuesday, expressing frustration over what she described as “political interference” in her freedom of movement.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the President had personally resolved the legal issues and instructed the AGF to discontinue the cases. However, she claimed her international passport was seized at the airport by immigration officers, allegedly acting on the orders of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“There was no court order stopping me from travelling. Yes, I know I have two Federal Government cases against me, but the President of Nigeria has already directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw them,” she stated.
Senator Akpabio
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Tinubu had also instructed Akpabio to ensure that the politically motivated cases were terminated, adding that it was shocking to see her travel restricted despite the President’s decision.
“Is Godswill Akpabio so important? Why is he overruling the President’s directive? Immigration officers have held my passport for over 20 minutes without justification. This is unlawful,” she lamented during the live session.
The senator further disclosed that this was not the first time she had been barred from travelling abroad, suggesting a pattern of political intimidation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has been facing two separate federal cases filed in Abuja earlier this year, both of which accuse her of making statements that
