The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a serving magistrate, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on a three-count charge of bribery and extortion.
Kumo, a Magistrate at the Chief Magistrate Court, Pantami, was brought before the court on December 3, 2025, on charges filed by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate.
The charges accuse Magistrate Kumo of receiving monetary benefits totaling ₦1.4 million via the bank account of a court registrar, identified as Adamu Ahmed.
The alleged offenses are in violation of Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Specifically, the charges allege two instances of receiving money:
₦1,000,000 received through the Registrar’s Zenith Bank Account (Number 2273938871)
₦400,000 received on or about November 11, 2024, also through the same Registrar’s Zenith Bank Account.
The cited section of the anti-graft Act criminalizes a person who, on account of anything already done or to be afterwards done in the discharge of official duties, asks for, receives, or obtains property or benefits for himself or any other person.
The punishment for violating this section is imprisonment for seven years.
Naijaonpoint reports that Magistrate Kumo pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
The Prosecuting counsel Abubakar Aliyu requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant at the Gombe State Correctional Centre.
However, Defence counsel Adamu Bawa moved a motion for bail, which the prosecution opposed.
Justice Kereng granted interim bail to the defendant.
The judge justified the decision by noting that Kumo had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and voluntarily appeared in court from home.
The court has adjourned the matter to January 13 and 14, 2026, for a ruling on the formal bail application and the commencement of the hearing.
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