Zambian ex-president acquitted over oil deal with Nigeria
Former Zambian president Rupiah Banda was acquitted on
Monday after a court case in which he was alleged to have personally benefited
from a $2.5 million oil deal with Nigeria.
According to AFP, at a trial that began in early 2013, Banda was charged with
abusing his authority in awarding the Nigerian contract.
"The case is dismissed and the consequences of this is
that the accused is acquitted," Magistrate Joshua Banda told the court.
"There is no evidence brought by the prosecution that
the benefits were to accrue to the accused's family and the prosecution failed
to interview a single official from Nigeria."
Banda, who had pleaded not guilty after he was stripped of
presidential immunity and arrested, sung and danced with his supporters outside
the court.
"Let's love one another and forgive each other,"
he told reporters. "Lets forget about this thing and move forward as a
country."
The 78-year-old, who led the southern African nation from
2008 to 2011, faced a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.
Kenneth Konga, who was energy minister under Banda, told the
court that he had travelled to Nigeria to secure the oil deal when Zambia was
in desperate need of fuel and that the president had not made any profits.
Banda's successor Michael Sata cracked down on what he said
was corruption within the previous administration , but critics accused Sata of
persecuting opponents.
Sata died in 2014 and was succeeded by current leader Edgar
Lungu.
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