₦airaland Forum

Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, a magistrate, has been arraigned before a Gombe high court over a N1.4 million bribery allegation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Kumo on Wednesday before H.H. Kereng, the presiding judge, on a three count- charge bordering on extortion and bribery.

Count one of the charges 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.”

Count three of the charges 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 a 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 committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Abubakar Aliyu, the prosecution counsel, asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in Gombe state Correctional Centre.

However, Adamu Bawa, counsel to Kumo, moved a motion for bail which was opposed by the prosecution on point of law.

The judge granted bail to the defendant pending the ruling on his application.

“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,” Kereng said.

The judge therefore adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and hearing of the case.

Kukutente23:
How efcc missed the looters in Abuja to go and catch a magistrate in Gombe is the ninth wonder of the world

erniok2:
Any official involved should face the music wether high or low abi make EFCC free am as they never arraign abuja looters?

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/efcc-arraigns-gombe-magistrate-over-n1-4m-bribery-allegation/

Sermwell:
Selective justice is one of the biggest fraud in our fight against corruption!

erniok2:
Nit really selective, evidences plus a complaint or obvious financial crime. You didn't sound surprised nothing was mentioned about the registrar?

Port8080:
A Magistrate who takes bribe to pervert justice. Shamee on him

Sermwell:
You mean there was no evidence against Ganduje and Yahaya Bello?

erniok2:
Any official involved should face the music wether high or low abi make EFCC free am as they never arraign abuja looters?

Kukutente23:
EFCC's job based on FATF framework that was used to create it in 2003 is to track illicit funds and money laundering especially by politically connected persons
How does a magistrate accepting bribe fit into that description especially in the light of the reality of corruption in high places in Nigeria?

erniok2:
L


Find attached EFCC legal framework. It includes corrupt practices which is why their functions are similar to ICPC. It was well within their purview to arrest, investigate and prosecute the corrupt. This is why they arrest vote buyers. They only thing as someone pointed out is that they go for the easy preys while Abuja looters keep smiling.

Kukutente23:
As you can see, efcc's primary responsibility is money laundering, 419 and other illicit financial flows. I've not said they don't have the powers to investigate and prosecute corruption but what I'm saying is that they abandon their core mandate to be chasing peripheral issues that even icpc can easily handle

erniok2:
You clarified it now because your initial post implied this incident was outside their jurisdiction.

Mathewrichard99:
Plentiful all over Nigeria. In fact, all Nigerian judges are into it. It's a normal practice in Nigeria and it's mostly done through the court registrar...it's like a cartel kind of practice strictly guarded. All those lawyers, judges, justices, magistrates etc.....are mostly very very very corrupt......"Wig of Corruption"

histemple:
This is a strong allegation against "all Nigerian Judges."

I believe you do have your proof of evidence?

Mathewrichard99:
Yes of course... This is even beyond body of evidence.....You will be shocked if I show the dossier of some corrupt judges in the federal high court, Abuja and Lagos.....

histemple:
I understand if you say SOME, but to allege (as you previously did) that ALL Nigerian judges take bribe, is extremely concerning.