EFCC arraigns magistrate for allegedly receiving over N1m bribe through Zenith Bank

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  has arraigned  a serving Magistrate, Mohammed  Kumo before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe High Court sitting in Gombe.

A statement issued by the anti-graft commission said Kumo, a Magistrate, was arraigned on Wednesday on three count- charges bordering  on extortion and bribery by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

Count one of the charges reads: “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 22739….. 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.

Count 3 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 monetary benefit of Four hundred  Thousand  Naira (N400,000) through your Zenith Bank Account Number 22739388… 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.

According to the statement: the defendant  pleaded not guilty  to the charges  prompting the prosecution  counsel , Abubakar Aliyu to ask the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in Gombe State Correctional Centre but counsel to the defendant,  Adamu Bawa moved a motion for bail which was vehemently  opposed by the prosecution on point of law.

“Justice Kereng,  having heard both prosecution and defence counsel said, “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 statement said.

The judge therefore adjourned the case to January13 and 14, 2026 for ruling on bail application and hearing of the case.