The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Gombe magistrate Mohammed Suleiman Kumo in the state High Court over allegations that he accepted N1.4 million in bribes.
Facing serious allegations of corruption, Gombe magistrate Mohammed Suleiman Kumo appeared before Justice H.H. Kereng in a Gombe High Court this week. The EFCC arraigned him on Wednesday on three counts of receiving monetary benefits of N1.4 million via a proxy account, an offence under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
According to the charges filed by the EFCC, Kumo is accused of two instances of bribery and extortion.
He allegedly received a total of N1.4 million in two separate transactions: one for N1 million and another for N400,000, both through a bank account belonging to Adamu Ahmed, a registrar in his court. Kumo pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
A legal battle erupted over Kumo’s freedom after his plea. Prosecution counsel Abubakar Aliyu pushed for a trial date and Kumo’s remand in a correctional center, but defense attorney Adamu Bawa quickly filed for bail.
However, the prosecution’s strong opposition on “point of law” meant the judge had to rule on the immediate future of the accused magistrate.
Ultimately, Justice H.H. Kereng granted Kumo interim bail.
The judge reasoned that since the defendant had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and voluntarily came to court from home, he should remain free pending a formal ruling on the bail application.
The case was adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2026, for the official bail ruling and the start of the trial.
