Gombe High Court Jails Magistrate Over N1m Bribery Scandal

​GOMBE – Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court has convicted and sentenced Mohammad Suleiman Kumo, a presiding magistrate, to two years and six months in prison for accepting a N1 million bribe.

​The verdict, delivered in Gombe, marks the conclusion of a legal battle that began with Kumo’s arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 3, 2025.

​The Road to Conviction

​Kumo, who sat at the Chief Magistrate Court in Pantami, was found guilty of receiving monetary benefits through a third-party account. According to the charge sheet, on November 6, 2024, the convict received N1,000,000 via a Zenith Bank account belonging to Adamu Ahmed, a registrar within his own court.

​The prosecution established that this act violated Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. While Kumo initially entered a “not guilty” plea at the start of the trial, he made a dramatic U-turn during the resumed sitting on May 5, 2026. His counsel, Adamu Bawa, informed the court of his client’s intention to change his plea, after which Kumo admitted to the charges.

​Jurisdiction Tussle

​The case was previously stalled by a preliminary objection filed by the defense on December 30, 2025. Kumo’s legal team had argued that the High Court lacked jurisdiction, claiming that as a “judicial officer,” Kumo should first face disciplinary action by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

​However, EFCC prosecutor A. Aliyu successfully countered this argument by citing Section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which clarifies that magistrates do not fall under the specific constitutional definition of “judicial officers” reserved for higher court judges. Justice Kereng upheld this submission on February 17, 2026, clearing the way for the trial.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Sentence and Penalties

​In his final judgment, Justice Kereng emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that corruption within the temple of justice undermines the rule of law.

​The court’s orders included:

• ​Imprisonment: Two years and six months.
• ​Fine Option: A fine of N250,000 in lieu of the prison term.
• ​Compensation: An additional N500,000 to be paid to the EFCC to cover the costs of investigation and prosecution.

​”The sum of N500,000 is not excessive as compensation for the resources spent by the Commission in the course of this trial,” the judge noted.

​The investigation into Kumo’s activities was triggered by a petition sent to the Gombe State Ministry of Justice by Abubakar Isa Jauro Kuna and Suleiman Haruna, who blew the whistle on the magistrate’s corrupt demands.