Kaduna North constituents petition NDLEA over cocaine use by lawmaker

Some constituents of Kaduna North Federal Constituency have petitioned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over 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.

It followed an allegation made on social media on August 29 by Bashir El-Rufai, the lawmaker’s biological brother. The claim has been reported by several media organisations but has not been independently verified.

In the petition addressed to the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), the constituents said they were not asking the agency to presume the lawmaker’s guilt or conduct an unlawful compulsory test.

Rather, they urged the agency to independently assess the information and determine whether there were lawful grounds for an investigation.

“We respectfully bring to the Agency’s attention a serious allegation publicly attributed on 29 August 2026 to Bashir El-Rufai against his biological brother of the same father and mother, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the Member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency,” the petition read.

“The allegation includes alleged cocaine use. It has been reported by multiple media organisations and circulated widely online. We attach the materials available to us for the Agency’s independent assessment.”

The petitioners said they were not presenting the allegation as established fact, stressing that the family relationship neither proved nor disproved the claim.

They argued that an allegation involving a serving federal legislator should not be dismissed solely as a private family matter if it potentially constituted an offence under Nigerian drug-control laws.

“Our concern is that an allegation of cocaine use involving a serving federal legislator cannot properly be disposed of merely by describing the controversy as a private family affair,” they said.

According to them, if established by competent evidence, the allegation could raise questions about public trust, ethical responsibility and confidence in an elected representative.

They, however, acknowledged the lawmaker’s right to privacy and the constitutional presumption of innocence.

The constituents cited Sections 3 and 4 of the NDLEA Act, which they said placed drug-law enforcement and investigation within the agency’s statutory responsibilities.

They asked the NDLEA to receive and assess the information, determine whether lawful grounds for investigation existed and, where necessary, take appropriate investigative steps.

They also requested that the agency, where practicable, communicate the administrative outcome of the petition.

The petition included a schedule of enclosures comprising the original signed document and an evidence bundle containing public statements, media reports, indexed exhibits, preserved screenshots and SHA-256 references.

A separate courier and delivery record attached to the package showed that it was sent through UPS and bore an NDLEA receiving stamp dated September 8, 2026.