A magistrate with the Chief Magistrate Court in Gombe State, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of bribery and extortion.
In a statement released on Thursday, the EFCC said Kumo was brought before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on Wednesday to face a three-count charge filed by the Commission’s Gombe Zonal Directorate.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, being a Magistrate at the Chief Magistrate Court, did receive for yourself monetary benefits of One Million Naira through Zenith Bank Account Number 2273938871 belonging to one Adamu Ahmed, a Registrar in your court, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
Another count states:
“That you, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, being a Magistrate at the Chief Magistrate Court, Pantami, on or about the 11th day of November 2024 in Gombe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did receive for yourself a monetary benefit of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,000) through Zenith Bank Account Number 2273938871 belonging to one Adamu Ahmed, a Registrar in your court, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
According to the EFCC, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the plea, prosecuting counsel Abubakar Aliyu applied for a trial date and requested that Kumo be remanded in the Gombe State Correctional Centre.
However, defence counsel, Adamu Bawa, moved a bail application, which the prosecution opposed on points of law.
After listening to both sides, Justice Kereng ruled:
“Having recognised that the defendant was granted administrative bail by the EFCC and came to court from home, and based on that, I grant the defendant bail in the interim pending the ruling on his bail application.”
The judge adjourned the matter to January 13 and 14, 2026, for ruling on the bail request and continuation of proceedings.
This is not the first time a judicial officer in Gombe has faced corruption-related charges. In 2016, the EFCC arraigned an Area Court judge, Umar Gwani, before a Federal High Court for allegedly collecting money from the public through false pretence and conspiracy.
