Gombe Judge to Face Trial Over Alleged Bribery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged Mohammed Kumo, a magistrate of the Chief Magistrate Court in Gombe State, with extortion and bribery.

The anti-graft organization revealed in a statement on Thursday that Kumo was charged on three counts by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate and appeared before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe High Court on Wednesday.

“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″ is one of the counts.”

“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,” according to Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
The defendant entered a not guilty plea to all charges, according to the EFCC statement posted on its official X Twitter.

According to the EFCC, this led to Abubakar Aliyu, the prosecution’s attorney, requesting a trial date and remanding Kumo to the Gombe State Correctional Center.
The statement further stated that Adamu Bawa, the defense attorney, filed a bail petition, which the prosecution vehemently rejected on legal grounds.

“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 statement revealed, following the hearing of arguments from both sides.

In order to rule on the bail application and continue the hearing, the judge postponed the case until January 13 and 14, 2026.

A court officer has already been detained and charged with fraud.

Umar Gwani, an Area Court judge, was charged with fraud by the EFCC in 2016 before a Federal High Court in Gombe State. Gwani was accused of collecting money from the public through deceit and conspiracy.