- EFCC Drags Serving Magistrate To Court Over Corruption.
- Court grants interim bail as defendant denies all corruption charges.
- Case adjourned to January for bail ruling and trial commencement.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a serving magistrate, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, before Justice H. H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court on a three count charge bordering on bribery and extortion. Kumo, who serves at the Chief Magistrate Court in Pantami, was brought to court on December 3 by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- INEC Ends Phase 1 Voter Registration Dec 10
- Why CBN Increasing ATM Withdrawal Limit Matters
- Fire Service Officer Dies as One-Way Rider Causes Fatal Crash in Lagos
EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the charge sheet, the magistrate is accused of receiving a total of ₦1.4 million through the bank account of a court registrar, identified as Adamu Ahmed.
The EFCC alleges that ₦1 million was received through the registrar’s Zenith Bank account, while an additional ₦400,000 was paid into the same account on November 11, 2024.
The offences are said to contravene Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which prohibits public officers from soliciting or receiving benefits in connection with the discharge of official duties. The section carries a penalty of seven years imprisonment.
Kumo pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Prosecuting counsel Abubakar Aliyu asked the court to fix a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Centre. Defence counsel Adamu Bawa, however, moved an application for bail, which the prosecution opposed.
Justice Kereng granted interim bail after noting that the defendant had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had voluntarily appeared in court.
The matter was adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2026, for a ruling on the substantive bail application and the commencement of trial.
