Former President Rupiah Banda has been acquitted of the charge of abuse of authority of office in an oil deal involving a Nigerian company.
It is alleged that between May 1, 2008 and September 24, 2011,Mr Banda, being a person employed in the public service, namely President of the Republic of Zambia, did abuse the authority of his office by allegedly procuring a Nigerian government-to-government oil contract in the name of the Republic of Zambia but did not benefit the Zambian people.
Delivering this afternoon Principal Magistrate Joshua Banda adopted the submission by the defence of no case to answer.
Magistrate Banda said the State failed to provide essential elements on the charge upon which they wanted the former President to be prosecuted, and therefore found no merit in their submission.
He further said the State failed to prove that there was arbitrariness in the alleged act by the former President.
Magistrate Banda has since granted the State leave to appeal.
And former President Rupiah Banda said his acquittal shows that vindictiveness does not pay.
He adds that this also proves that the Zambian courts can be relied upon to deliver justice.
The former President has thanked his supporters for standing with him throughout court process.
And one of his lawyers Sakwiba Sikota says the acquittal of his client has shown the case was a witch-hunt.
He has since stated that whoever will call Mr Banda a corrupt following today’s ruling will be liable for defamation.
Meanwhile there was jubilation among Mr Banda’s supporters when the court announced its verdict.
QFM NEWS
Datz y he moved 4rom MMD 2 pf 2 gain more power
Datz y u moved 4rom MMD 2 pf so dat dey help u.
Am glad
GOD HAS GOT AN APPOINTED TIME 2 FORFIL EVETHING
Everyone knows were that thing was going.am not happy.
Ala! Ukugeta icinsenda Kumuchiken kusoftener. E. L balepaule. Dull people who are taught by the situation. That’s why we tell you that the wise come from the East. If you know history very well, when Mwanawasa died, ba R B cried so much. When he was given that two years to finish Levy’ s term, it became his time to comcerntrate on his tammy. When Chilu also died,E L cried cried. The two gentlemen from my home province have one thing in common. They pretended that they weren’t interested in plot Oscar November Eco but deep down their hearts they were very interested. Friends that crying wasn’t real. My friend ukwa in Nigeria call it ‘colocodile tears.’ Some of you to ma bemba charps when I told you that those weren’t good for that position, you insisted that they were the best. Shutup bamalinso! Just enjoy this no since.
Such I will soon stop supporting PF!!!!!
the result wieght sucks. we spend money persecuting politicians. I hope this is the last.
That’s what is on the ground? O shame! Shame nd shame i tell you. What? Acquital? No. There is no justice there, what justice? Shame. Innocent pipo are behind bars, some undergoing persecution while crimals nd thieves rejoice. What is justice then? Lesa somone twacula.
Blind voters
Jst becoz they have made band wth president Lungu,its nt fair no more PF next year,term #HH_4_REAL
DPP to appeal against this aquital
judiciary not independent.red card come 2016
it z on a sideline of tribalism
When this confused government of pf and its minions were told that this case against Rupia Bwezani ‘dziko pansi’ Banda was non starter,they refused en in their usual dull way of doin thins went ahead at the expense ov wastin tim en resources.Today they ar praisin the same man they claimed was corrupt.SHAME!
Why can’t you appeal against the judgement? Let’s not celebrate in wrong things, but I fail to understand that even when you knew that that’s how the judgement was going to go, no one complained. Sour grapes
Jokes
So u wanted lungu to kill banda
Da hiphop comunity is pissed about r.bs acuital..best belive we gon make a song bout it
Chwechwechwechwe!
it is not yet over this case will be reviewed next year when the non corrupt judicially will be in place. nothing to celebrate.
Shame on Wynter for persecuting our man.
Nix abena, ata ni court ! The oil was paid for and YES it wasn’t delivered. Therez such proof. What other proof does the court want ?
and those emotional Zambians will start crying foul,take a chill pill and go to law school….it’s that simple!
REPUBLIC OF BRIBERY N CORRUPTION.
This time i wl vote upnd..
Its like watching a nigerian movie, you even know how it wil end.
So Father Luonde was right
Nega-nega formula
I quote “magistrate Banda” end of quote… [I rest my case]
J.band vs R.Banda wako ni wako shame on u hell is waiting
#WnW…. Wako ni wako has really worked en da Zambian politics awe mwandi! We voted Pf for the vocal late M.C. Sata but now awe en think the tears are rolling 4 da poor Zambians
Yabufi acquital mmmmmm Mr Shamenda Icimpwena awe suer!
Circus…,Politicians playing with ppl’s minds…
Pilungu nabantu bake
Innocent banda
Men from the east.