EFCC Arraigns Magistrate Over Alleged Bribery, Extortion

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on December 3, 2025, arraigned Magistrate Mohammed Suleiman Kumo before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on a three-count charge bordering on bribery and extortion.

Kumo, who serves at the Chief Magistrate Court in Gombe, was brought before the court by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate for allegedly receiving monetary benefits through a bank account operated by a registrar in his court.

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 Kumo, on or about November 11, 2024, received N400,000 through the same account in similar circumstances, an offence also punishable under the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following his plea, prosecution counsel Abubakar Aliyu requested a trial date and sought the defendant’s remand in the Gombe State Correctional Centre. However, defence counsel Adamu Bawa moved an application for bail, which the prosecution opposed on points of law.

Justice Kereng, after hearing both sides, noted that the defendant had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had appeared in court from home. On that basis, the court granted Kumo interim bail pending a formal ruling on the bail application.

The matter was adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2026 for the court’s ruling on the bail application and commencement of trial.