Some constituents of Kaduna North Federal Constituency have petitioned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), asking the agency to independently assess an allegation of cocaine use involving their representative in the House of Representatives, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.
The petition, dated September 8, 2026, was signed on behalf of the constituents by Abubakar Hayatu of Kabala Ward and Musa Tukur of Unguwar Gaji Ward.
The move followed allegations made publicly on social media on August 29 by Bashir El-Rufai, identified as Mohammed Bello El-Rufai’s biological brother. The allegations subsequently attracted widespread attention and were reported by several media organisations. However, the claims have not been independently verified.
In their petition addressed to the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd.), the petitioners stressed that they were not asking the agency to presume the lawmaker’s guilt or subject him to an unlawful compulsory test.
Instead, they asked the agency to examine the information available and determine independently whether there are lawful grounds for an investigation.
The petitioners said the allegation should not automatically be treated as established fact, noting that the family relationship between the two men neither proves nor disproves the claim.
They argued, however, that allegations concerning possible unlawful drug use by a serving federal legislator could warrant the attention of the appropriate law-enforcement authority if there is sufficient evidence to justify further action.
According to the petition, the constituents told the NDLEA that their concern was not simply about the family disagreement from which the allegation emerged, but about whether the allegation potentially raises issues that fall within the agency’s statutory responsibilities.
They therefore asked the NDLEA to receive and assess the information supplied, determine whether lawful grounds for investigation exist, and, where appropriate, take whatever investigative steps are permitted under the law.
The petitioners also requested that the agency communicate the administrative disposition of their petition where practicable.
As part of their submission, the constituents reportedly included the original signed petition alongside an evidence bundle containing public statements, contemporaneous media reports, indexed exhibits, preserved screenshots and SHA-256 references.
A separate courier record attached to the submission reportedly shows that the package was sent through UPS and carries an NDLEA receiving stamp dated September 8, 2026.
The petition comes weeks after Bashir El-Rufai publicly accused his brother of cocaine and alcohol use in a series of social-media posts on August 29. The posts were subsequently deleted, while reports on the dispute have noted that the allegations have not been independently established.
The latest development therefore places the controversy before the agency responsible for enforcing Nigeria’s drug-control laws, although there is currently no publicly established finding from the NDLEA confirming that Mohammed Bello El-Rufai uses cocaine.
Until any competent investigation or evidence establishes otherwise, the allegation remains an allegation rather than a proven fact.
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