The Gombe high court has convicted and sentenced Mohammed Suleiman Kumo, a magistrate in the state, for receiving a N1 million bribe.
According to a statement released by the Economic and
Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Kumo was first arraigned on December 3,
2025, on a three-count charge bordering on bribery.
On December 30, 2025, the magistrate filed a preliminary
objection to challenge the EFCC’s jurisdiction to prosecute him, arguing that
as a judicial officer, he ought to be taken to the state judicial service
commission.
Countering the application, A. Aliyu, EFCC counsel, argued
that the defendant was a magistrate and not a judicial officer, citing section
318(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
H.H. Kereng, the presiding judge, upheld the argument of the
EFCC counsel.
The defendant initially pleaded not guilty when the charges
were read.
“That you Muhammad Suleiman Kumo being a magistrate at Chief
magistrate Court Pantami in such capacity on or about the 6th day of November
2024 in Gombe , Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court
did receive for yourself, monetary benefit of One Million Naira (N1,000,000)
through Zenith bank account number 2273938871 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,” part of the charges read.
However, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, counsel to the magistrate
informed the court that the defendant would like to change his plea from “not
guilty to guilty”. He pleaded guilty when the charges were re-read to him.
Following the guilty plea, the prosecutor said the team had
spent time and resources in the prosecution of the case before the change of
plea.
He urged the court to convict the defendant and order him,
in addition to the sentence, to pay N500,000 as compensation to the EFCC.
THE CONVICTION
In his judgement, the judge convicted the magistrate for
committing an offence under sections 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Act 2000.
He sentenced him to two years and six months’ imprisonment
with an option of a N250,000 fine and ordered him to pay N500,000 as
compensation to the EFCC.
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