Magistrate Mohammed Suleiman Kumo has been arraigned before a Gombe State High Court over allegations of receiving N1.4 million in bribes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Kumo before Justice H.H. Kereng on Wednesday on a three-count charge bordering on extortion and bribery.
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 227******* 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 Chief Magistrate Court Pantami, in such capacity, 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 your Zenith Bank account number 22******** 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.”
Kumo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecuting counsel Abubakar Aliyu requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the magistrate in the Gombe State Correctional Centre.
However, defence counsel Adamu Bawa applied for bail, a request the prosecution opposed on a point of law.
The judge granted the defendant interim bail, noting, “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 matter was adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2026, for the ruling on the bail application and continuation of the hearing.
