The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a magistrate, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on three counts bordering on bribery and extortion.
Kumo was arraigned by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate for allegedly receiving monetary benefits totalling N1.4 million through a bank account belonging to a court registrar, Adamu Ahmed.
One of the charges alleges that the magistrate, while serving at the Chief Magistrate Court, received N1 million into Zenith Bank account number 2273938871, purportedly facilitated by the registrar. Another count accuses him of receiving N400,000 on November 11, 2024, in similar circumstances. The offences contravene Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Kumo pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following his plea, EFCC counsel Abubakar Aliyu asked the court for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in the Gombe State Correctional Centre. However, defence counsel Adamu Bawa moved an application for bail, which the prosecution opposed on legal grounds.
Justice Kereng ruled that since the defendant had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and appeared in court from home, he would be granted interim bail pending a formal ruling on the bail application.
The case was adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2026, for the ruling on bail and continuation of trial.
