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Govt sends Chiluba, Regina to Nigeria on holiday

Govt sends Chiluba, Regina to Nigeria on holiday
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 23 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda’s government has sent former president Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina for a two-week holiday in Nigeria after his controversial acquittal last August on corruption charges.

Chiluba’s spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba yesterday confirmed Chiluba’s trip to Nigeria.
“Dr Chiluba is in Nigeria for a two weeks holiday. He went to Lagos on Tuesday, 17th November, 2009.

He is expected back at the month-end. Today Sunday, he was seen on a live programme attending prophet Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua’s synagogue on Emmanuel TV, a Christian channel,” Mwamba said. “This is Dr Chiluba’s first holiday, other than his medical trips to South Africa since he left office. He is accompanied by his wife Mrs Regina Chiluba and two security officials.”

Asked if Chiluba’s trip was financed by the government under his conditions as former head of state, Mwamba responded: “Oh yeh. It’s purely a holiday.”

Ndola High Registrar Jones Chinyama, sitting as a magistrate in Lusaka, on August 17, 2009, acquitted Chiluba on charges of theft involving US $500, 000 public funds when he was head of state.

The acquittal has raised a lot controversy in the country, especially after pronouncements by President Banda and some of his key ministers suggesting that the government ‘fixed’ the acquittal.

Labels: CHILUBA, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA, VERA CHILUBA

posted by MrK @ 4:58 AM