By Godfrey Olukya 26-3-3013
Former Zambia’s president, 76 yr old Rupiah Banda, who was arrested on allegations of corruption while still in office has today appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of power linked to an oil contract he signed with a Nigerian firm.
Rupiah Banda was replaced by President Micheal Sata in 2011 to whom he lost in the presidential elections. While assuming office, Sata promised to fight corruption.
Accompanied by his wife, Thandiwe Banda his lawyers and some party leaders, he appeared before magistrate Joshua Banda who read him the charges before his responding by denying the charges.
Banda’s immunity was recently lifted by parliament. The lifting of the ban led to his arrest on Monday on allegations of corruption, money laundering and fraud.
It is alleged that while still in office, Banda engaged in corrupt activities in the procurement of crude oil from a Nigerian firm called Nigerian National Oil Company.
Banda and his supporters have blamed Sata for framing him in an attempt to silence the opposition.
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