Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has today thrown out an application in which former Republican president Rupiah Banda had sought to have his abuse of office case referred to the High Court citing constitutional issues.
The former president’s defence lawyers had argued that their client’s case in which he is accused of procuring oil from a named Nigeria company, using his office for benefit of his personal interest, raised constitutional issues that needed to be clarified in the High court.
Delivering ruling on the application this morning, Magistrate Banda ruled that there were no constitutional issues in the matter to warrant referring the case to the High court.
After the ruling the former president’s lawyers sought an adjournment to allow their client adequate time to digest ruling and determine the next course of action.
Defence lawyer Sakwiba Sikota pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter stating that the constitution provides that the accused be given adequate time to digest the ruling.
This is what Mr Sikota had to say in an interview later after the adjournment.
Earlier in court another defence lawyer Patrick Mvunga argued that the charge against their client needed reasonable time to digest the ruling.
But Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito submitted that the matter proceeds without further delay as it had been delayed for too long.
Magistrate Banda has since adjourned the matter to this afternoon for plea and setting of the trial dates.
Mr. Banda is accused of stealing about $11 million through an oil contract with the Nigerian government and having the money routed to his son’s account.
He is also accused of using some of those funds for his failed re-election bid.
Mr. Banda is represented by his lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers, Prof Patrick Mvunga of Mvunga and Company, Erick Silwamba of Silwamba and company and Irene Kunda of George Kunda and Company.
Proceed with trial.No time wasting.
Sakwiba is a professional at getting adjournments so he can charge more fees. Nothing new here. The ruling was very straightforward and not complicated. If RB is innocent then please quickly prove it in court rather than pleading for adjournments and trying to come up with all sorts of delaying tactics.
Atase! Kuya bebele
Good.I like it…it is dancing time.Who is calling the tune bane ? Not ichileya.
Game on baba, tiye nayo ni kalingngu dance ili apa manje…. RB and his cronies wanted to distract us with their technicalities. Wapya munzi wina azalila
Ufisanji mambala?
Surely, if the oil never got to the Zambians, and the money went to his pockets, is that not stealing ? Thieves always want to find loopholes, what technicality mambala, thief. Kukonda ku fisa-fisa mwaona lelo!! People put you there to work for them, but instead, you see it as an opportunity to fill your pockets naunkonte. Just answer to the charge, clear your dirty name, or go to jail.
Please, fast forward the trial before he dies
Why represented by so many law firms.
Easy Money to throw away baba.
I told you even a 12year old child can tell that RupiaS hands are very dirty.
It is a very big shame to people representing him.May be try shameless Amsterdam also to represent you Mbuya.
umulandu taubola,ifilala fya munda yanama ifyabantu tafilala.
yes … game on bravo to the DPP. !!!
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS IN SOMEONES BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.
BRING MORE SANGOMAS APART FROM AMSTERDAM.
Mutembo Nchinto Chiluba dribbled you; now you have a chance to redeem yourself. Don’t let this one get away with our money
It was RB who dribbled him by conniving with former DPP to withdraw the appeal that Nchito had filed
Eish the past 2 day these Professors at ZRL have taken over the news to the extent that bloggers are not even interested in following up on RB. By this time we were suppose to be reading the 65th comment.
Ufisanji Mambala????????
Does Presidential immunity mean a President can steal knowing fully well he wont be prosecuted?
The lawyers also need employment naimwe. Just because they are in a higher pay bracket, does not mean they shouldn’t get paid. It’s one way Zambia gets back her money from RB. Yaba 11 million dollars.
His blood sucking ***** are giving this thieving chap Ala Bee wrong advice and the legal bills are piling up! kikikiki The way you stole from the till is the same way your lawyers are stealing from you – Karma!kikiki
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Mr RB, you are now reaping exactly what you sowed. Mr Banda was too excited in his rule. What were you trying to achieve by removing abuse of office clause? There is a purpose for your short serving. Regards
SAKWIBA WILL NOT LOSE ANYTHING WHATEVER THE OUTCOME. INFACT HE WILL MAKE MORE MONEY BY TELLING RB THAT THIS CASE IS NOW TOO DIFFICULT YOU SEE. SO I NEED AN ADDITIONAL K2BN TO KEEP DEFENDING YOU.