The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on December 3, 2025 brought Mohammed Suleiman Kumo before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe High Court sitting in Gombe.
Kumo, who serves as a Magistrate, faced a three-count charge involving allegations of bribery and extortion filed by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
The first count of the charge states: “That you Mohammed Suleiman Kumo being a Magistrate at 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 committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The third count reads: “That you Mohammed Suleiman Kumo being a Magistrate at Chief Magistrate Court Pantami, in such capacity, on or about the 11th day of November 2024 in Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,did receive for yourself 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 committed an offence contrary to an punishable under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, leading the prosecution counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, to request a trial date and for the defendant’s remand at the Gombe State Correctional Centre. However, defence counsel, Adamu Bawa, filed a motion for bail, which the prosecution strongly opposed on legal grounds.
Justice Kereng, after hearing arguments from both sides, stated, “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 court subsequently adjourned the matter to January 13 and 14, 2026 for the ruling on the bail application and continuation of the hearing.
