EFCC Arraigns Gombe Magistrate Over Alleged Bribery, Extortion

T The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, arraigned Magistrate Mohammed Suleiman Kumo before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on allegations of extortion and bribery.

Kumo, who serves at the Chief Magistrate Court, was brought before the court by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a three-count charge bordering on receiving monetary benefits through the bank account of a court registrar, identified as Adamu Ahmed.

One of the charges states that Kumo allegedly received the sum of ?1 million through a Zenith Bank account belonging to Ahmed, an act the Commission says violates Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Another count alleges that on or about November 11, 2024, the defendant received ?400,000 through the same account, also in contravention of the law.

Kumo pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him. Following this, prosecution counsel Abubakar Aliyu asked the court to set a trial date and remand the defendant in the Gombe State Correctional Centre. However, defence counsel Adamu Bawa moved a motion for bail, which the prosecution strongly opposed on points of law.

In his ruling, Justice Kereng observed that the defendant had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had voluntarily appeared in court from home. He therefore granted Kumo interim bail pending a formal ruling on the bail application.

The case has been adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2026 for ruling on the bail application and commencement of hearing.