Justice H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court has sentenced Magistrate Muhammad Suleiman Kumo to two years and six months in prison for receiving a N1 million bribe.
Kumo, who served at the Chief Magistrate Court in Pantami, was convicted on May 5, 2026, after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty on a three-count charge brought by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The court found that on November 6, 2024, Kumo received N1 million through the Zenith Bank account of one Adamu Ahmed, a court registrar, contrary to Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Justice Kereng also ordered Kumo to pay N500,000 as compensation to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution costs. He gave the convict an option of a N250,000 fine.
The case began after the Gombe State Ministry of Justice received a complaint from Abubakar Isa Jauro Kuna and Suleiman Haruna alleging bribery against Kumo.
Kumo had initially challenged the court’s jurisdiction on December 30, 2025, arguing that as a judicial officer he should be tried by the Judicial Service Commission, JSC. EFCC counsel A.
Aliyu countered that a magistrate is not a judicial officer under Section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Justice Kereng upheld the EFCC’s position in a ruling on February 17, 2026.