By Emma Ombugadu, Northern Operation
Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court has convicted and sentenced a magistrate, Mohammad Suleiman Kumo, to two years and six months imprisonment for bribery.
Kumo, who served at the Chief Magistrate Court in Pantami, Gombe State, was prosecuted by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge bordering on corruption.
He was first arraigned on December 3, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, during proceedings on May 5, 2026, his counsel, Adamu Bawa, informed the court that the defendant had decided to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”
One of the charges against him stated that he received a ₦1 million bribe through a Zenith Bank account belonging to a court registrar, Adamu Ahmed, on November 6, 2024, while serving as a magistrate in Gombe.
Earlier in the trial, Kumo had challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that as a judicial officer, any misconduct allegation against him should first be handled by the Judicial Service Commission.
But EFCC counsel, A. Aliyu, opposed the objection, maintaining that a magistrate does not qualify as a judicial officer under Section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
In a ruling delivered on February 17, 2026, Justice Kereng upheld the EFCC’s argument and affirmed the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Following Kumo’s guilty plea, the prosecution told the court that substantial time and resources had already been spent on the case before the defendant admitted guilt. The EFCC also urged the court to award ₦500,000 as compensation for investigation and prosecution costs.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kereng described the offence as serious and convicted Kumo under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
“I hereby convict you for the offence of corruption,” the judge ruled, adding that the ₦500,000 compensation sought by the prosecution “is not excessive.”
The court subsequently sentenced Kumo to two years and six months imprisonment with an option of a ₦250,000 fine. He was also ordered to pay ₦500,000 compensation to the EFCC.
The case stemmed from bribery petitions submitted to the Gombe State Ministry of Justice by Abubakar Isa Jauro Kuna and Suleiman Haruna, which triggered investigations that eventually led to Kumo’s prosecution and conviction.
