The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a magistrate, Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, before Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe state high court over ₦1.4 million bribery.
Kumo was brought before the court on a three-count charge bordering on extortion and bribery.
According to the charge sheet, the first count accuses Kumo of receiving ₦1 million through a Zenith Bank account belonging to court registrar Adamu Ahmed, an act said to contravene section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000.
Another count stated that on November 11, 2024, the magistrate received an additional ₦400,000 through the same registrar’s account while serving at the chief magistrate court, Pantami.
Kumo pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, asked the judge to set a trial date and remand the defendant in the Gombe state correctional centre.
The defence counsel, Adamu Bawa, however, applied for bail, a request the prosecution opposed on legal grounds.
Justice Kereng ruled that Kumo be granted interim bail, noting that he had previously been released on administrative bail by the EFCC and appeared in court voluntarily.
The judge scheduled January 13 and 14, 2026, for the ruling on the substantive bail application and commencement of trial.
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