Earlier today, the senator representing Kogi central alleged
that her passport was seized by immigration officers on the orders of Senate
President Godswill Akpabio.

She said she was prevented from boarding her flight despite
having committed no offence or receiving any court order restricting her
movement.

However, Channels TV reports that Akinsola Akinlabi,
spokesperson of the NIS, described the incident as a routine immigration
procedure.

Akinlabi said the lawmaker was subjected to standard
verification processes like other passengers, and was later cleared to travel.

“NIS didn’t seize the distinguished senator’s passport, but
rather she went through routine immigration checks and was allowed to travel,”
Akinlabi said.

“The NIS officers needed to conduct their checks. They may
take your passport to do so, but that doesn’t mean it was seized as alleged.

“She has since been allowed to travel. Perhaps while waiting
for the checks to be completed, she assumed she was being stopped from
travelling.”

“She has travelled since then. The video was made while she
was going through the checks, not after. The passport was never seized.”

When asked if the senator resisted handing over her passport
for inspection, Akinlabi said he could not confirm that.

“I don’t know about that,” he replied. “But the officers
conducting the checks are authorised to collect passports for verification and
must return them once done, which they did.”