He shared his view in a statement issued and signed by him.

Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Festus Ogun, has condemned the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate, describing it as "illegal, arbitrary, and unconstitutional." 

He shared his view in a statement issued and signed by him.

Festus Ogun argued that the Senate lacks the power to suspend a serving senator for more than 14 days, citing Section 21 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. 

He further stated that the suspension, allegedly for violating Senate Standing Rules, was orchestrated by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom Senator Natasha had previously accused of sexual harassment. 

The lawyer said, "The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghen for six months by the Senate over alleged violation of Senate Standing Rules is illegal and arbitrary. Curiously, Senator Godswill Akpabio whom Senator Natasha accused of sexual harassment spearheaded the entire suspension exercise.

"To be clear, the position of the law is that the Nigerian Senate lacks power to suspend a serving Senator for six months. By dint of Section 21 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, a Senator cannot be suspended beyond 14 days.

"In addition, considering that Senator Akpabio is currently facing damning allegation of sexual harassment, he ought not to have presided over the illegal suspension of Senator Natasha. Suspension of Senator Natasha is malice taken too far.

"By spearheading Senator Natasha’s suspension, her constitutional right to fair hearing has been gravely breached as Akpabio ought not to be a judge in his own cause. This suspension breaches Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

"Importantly, suspending Senator Natasha amounts to a violent denial of her constituents entitled right to legislative representation. This position was rightly upheld by the Court in Bauchi State House of Assembly v Honourable Rifkatu Danna (2017) 49 WRN 52. In the cases of Dino Melaye v House of Reps and Ali Ndume v The Senate, our courts have consistently deprecated this similar assault on the Constitution.

"In light of the foregoing, we hereby demand that the illegal, malicious, undemocratic and unconstitutional suspension be lifted immediately and unconditionally." 

At the floor of the Senate, Akpabio had earlier read the resolution of the Senate Ethics committee to suspend Natasha for six months. 

"That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended for bringing the presiding officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Thursday while reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct probing her claims.

The controversy surrounding Natasha and Akpabio had stemmed out of a disagreement over sitting arrangements before Natasha went on to accuse Akpabio of sexual harassment, which he (Akpabio denied). 

Natasha in reaction to her suspension noted that the “injustice” meted to her would not stand test of time. 

Many Nigerians have shared their view on the development with criticisms trailing the action of the Senators.