The immediate past Zambian president Mr. Rupiah Banda, Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the charge of abuse of authority of office after being arrested yesterday by the country’s law enforcement agency over allegations of a self-benefiting crude oil import deal with Nigeria.

According to Zambia Reports, Banda procured a Nigerian-Zambian government deal to import oil “which in fact was intended to benefit him and his family where he instructed his son Henry Chikomeni Banda to determine the destination of the funds which were the proceeds of the contract” prompting the non-delivery of the oil.

Banda denied the charge and the case has been adjourned to April 3, 2013.

The former president has said that the allegations against him are politically motivated.

“As you can see that at the same time all the leaders of the opposition are here at court with different charges. This has never happened in the history of the country,” Banda said.

But he has declared he has confidence in the country’s judiciary.

Banda was president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011.