Gombe judge faces trial for suspected bribery

The suspect. Photo: EFCC

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A magistrate at the Chief Magistrate Court in Gombe State, Mohammed Kumo, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of extortion and bribery.

In a statement on Thursday, the anti-graft agency disclosed that Kumo was brought before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe High Court on Wednesday on a three-count charge filed by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate.

One of the counts 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 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 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.”

According to the EFCC statement shared on its official X handle, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.

This, EFCC disclosed, prompted the prosecution counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, to request a trial date and ask that Kumo be remanded in the Gombe State Correctional Centre.

The statement added that the defence counsel, Adamu Bawa, however, moved a motion for bail, which the prosecution strongly opposed on points of law.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the statement disclosed that Justice Kereng ruled, “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 judge adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and continuation of the hearing.

This is not the first time a judicial officer has been arrested and arraigned over alleged fraud.

In 2016, the EFCC arraigned an Area Court judge, Umar Gwani, before a Federal High Court in Gombe State for alleged fraud after accusing him of collecting money from the public through false pretence and conspiracy.

Uthman, a Mass Communication graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has over six years experience in journalism. He reports crime to community-related news for Metro, business with a focus on the capital market and the oil and gas.

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