The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, has struck out a petition against the Kogi State Government over the demolition of a property allegedly linked to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP.

The property reportedly belongs to Hajiya Zainab Abdulmalik, wife of a former Director-General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands, alleged to have harbored ISWAP members.

The petition, presented before the Senate by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, sought an investigation into the demolition to determine whether due process was followed.

During the hearing, Chairman of the Committee, Neda Imasuen, asked whether the matter was already before a court.
After confirming that it was, the committee ruled that the Senate could not entertain the petition because it was subjudice and involved the same parties before the court.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and counsel to the petitioner, Femi Victor, argued that the issues before the Senate were different from those before the court and urged the committee to proceed with the petition.

Dissatisfied with the committee's decision, petitioner Hajiya Zainab Abdulmalik said she only approached the court after the petition she submitted to the Senate in February received no attention.

The committee, therefore, advised the petitioner to withdraw the court case before resubmitting the petition for the Senate's consideration.