Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly accused his elder brother, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, of abusing cocaine and alcohol, turning what appears to be a private family dispute into a highly visible confrontation on social media.
Bashir made the allegations in posts on X on Saturday morning, August 29, 2026, targeting Mohammed Bello, who is a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency. The reason for the apparent dispute between the brothers was not immediately clear. Neither the lawmaker nor his representatives had, at the time of reporting, publicly responded to the accusations. The claims therefore remain allegations made by one family member and have not been independently established.
In his post, Bashir used strongly derogatory language while alleging that his brother had been using cocaine. He referred to what he described as an unidentified white substance around Mohammed Bello’s nostrils and accused the lawmaker of preferring alcohol and cocaine despite holding public office.
Bashir wrote that his brother was an “excuse for a brother” and alleged that his face was repeatedly covered with an unknown white substance around his nostrils. He then linked the accusation to Mohammed Bello’s position as an elected representative, saying the lawmaker represented a population in the House but preferred alcohol and cocaine.
The post attracted reactions from people following Bashir’s account. Some commenters criticised him for taking an apparent family disagreement into the public domain and urged the brothers to resolve their differences privately rather than through social media.
One commenter, using the X handle @cryptogeekng, advised Bashir to settle the matter away from social media and suggested that, if he was referring to his blood brother, the public nature of the accusation was itself inappropriate. The comment also used the same slang contained in the original dispute, saying the brothers should settle the matter “out of court and social media.”
Bashir rejected the criticism and maintained that the allegations were directed at Mohammed Bello. In his response, he repeated the accusation, saying his brother was the one using drugs and describing what he alleged was a pattern involving cocaine and whiskey.
The exchange has generated attention partly because both men are members of the same prominent political family. Their father, Nasir El-Rufai, served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and remains an influential figure in Nigerian politics. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai entered the House of Representatives in 2023 and has held a leadership role as chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations.
Mohammed Bello has also remained politically active during 2026. In May, he announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress and his move to the African Democratic Congress, saying he intended to seek re-election on the new platform. His political activities have kept him in the public eye as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections.
The latest family dispute is separate from the political controversies that have surrounded the wider El-Rufai family. Earlier in 2026, the family of Nasir El-Rufai issued statements concerning his detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. Mohammed Bello was among those who publicly defended his father and challenged the legality of the detention.
In July, the family also rejected a letter circulating online that purported to have been signed by Nasir El-Rufai and addressed to leaders of the African Democratic Congress. Mohammed Bello, speaking on behalf of the family, described the document as fake and urged the public to disregard it.
Saturday’s exchange is different, however, because the allegations concern the personal conduct of two brothers rather than a formal political or legal dispute.
There is currently no verified evidence in the public record establishing the drug-use allegations made by Bashir against Mohammed Bello. The accusation of cocaine use is serious, particularly because it has been directed at a sitting federal lawmaker. It would require independent evidence before it could properly be treated as a confirmed fact.
The episode also illustrates the risks faced by public figures when private disagreements spill into social media. Statements published on platforms such as X can reach large audiences almost immediately, while allegations made during emotionally charged exchanges can be repeated widely before the people concerned have an opportunity to respond.
For an elected representative, the controversy carries an additional public dimension. Members of the National Assembly are subject to public scrutiny, but allegations concerning private behaviour remain allegations unless supported by credible evidence or established through an appropriate process.
As of Saturday, there was no indication that police, anti-drug authorities or another public institution had opened an investigation into the claims made by Bashir. There was also no reported court proceeding arising from the accusations. The immediate issue therefore remains a public dispute between two brothers, with the underlying cause still unclear.
The controversy has also drawn attention because of the unusual decision to make such personal accusations publicly rather than through a private family discussion or formal complaint. For now, neither route has been reported.
The allegations are therefore best understood by readers as claims, not established facts. The allegations are therefore best understood as claims made publicly by Bashir El-Rufai rather than established facts. Any definitive assessment of the accusations would require a response from Mohammed Bello, credible independent evidence, or findings from a competent authority.
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time in Nigeria, with parties and political figures already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Mohammed Bello’s role in the House and his recent move to the ADC make developments involving him particularly likely to attract political attention.
However, there is no evidence from the available reporting that the dispute is connected to party politics or an electoral disagreement. Until either brother provides further explanation, the precise cause of the confrontation remains unknown.
For now, the public dispute has placed a prominent Nigerian political family at the centre of a personal controversy that began on social media. Whether the brothers will address the disagreement privately, respond publicly or take further action remains unclear. What is established is that Bashir made serious allegations against his elder brother on August 29, and that the claims have not been independently verified.
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