The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a Gombe magistrate, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, on three counts bordering on alleged extortion and bribery.
Kumo was brought before Justice H. H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on December 3, 2025, following his indictment by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency.
According to the EFCC, the magistrate allegedly used his position to illicitly obtain money through a court registrar. 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 also accused him of receiving additional funds a year earlier. The EFCC stated: “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 your 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.”
Kumo, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the arraignment, prosecution counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, prayed the court for a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Centre. But defence counsel, Adamu Bawa, moved a motion for bail, which the prosecution strongly opposed.
Ruling on the bail request, Justice Kereng noted that the defendant had not violated the EFCC’s administrative bail conditions. “Having recognized 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 held.
Justice Kereng adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and continuation of the hearing.
