Probe against ex-Uchumi CFO null and void court

The High Court has ruled that investigations into former Uchumi Director Chadwick Okumu are null and void.

According to the judge, the investigations that were instituted by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) were tainted with bias.

“The manner in which the entire process was conducted violates the sanctity of the rules of natural justice,” Judge John Mativo ruled.

The court also noted that it was wrong for the Authority to act as the investigators, prosecutors, judge and executioner.

“No person can be a judge in his own cause,” he added.

Justice Mativo further noted that CMA should have invoked section 11 and delegate its function to an independent body.

The court also quashed all orders issued by CMA against the former boss.

Okumu had moved to court to stop penalties imposed on him by his former employer for alleged violations at the troubled supermarket chain.

He charged that the authority punished him for decisions taken collectively at Uchumi’s board meetings.