Former Zambian president pleads innocent

Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of abusing the authority of office, officials said. Banda allegedly made a deal with the Nigerian government for oil to benefit him and his family from 2008-11, Zambia Reports said. Prosecutors allege that Banda instructed his son, Henry Chikomeni Banda, to determine the destination of the deal's profits, none of which made it to the Zambian government. Banda said Tuesday that he is confident the court will find him innocent. "Yes, of course I have confidence in the judiciary that is why I came. When this case started I was not in the country but I came so that I could go through this process," he said. The case has been adjourned until April 3.