Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda Tuesday denied abuse of authority charge leveled against him in connection with a Nigerian oil procurement deal.

Banda, who was arrested on Monday and charged with abuse of authority with regard to the procurement of oil from Nigeria, appeared for plea before Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda, who read the charge to him.

"No my lord, I deny the charge, thank you," Banda said when he was asked if he understood the charge and what his plea was.

Banda, 75, arrived at the court in the company of his lawyers while his wife, Thandiwe, appeared a little earlier. He was ushered into the accused's box where he sat while the court process went on.

According to the indictment, Banda while he was president of Zambia did abuse the authority of his office by procuring a Nigerian government to government oil contract in the name of the Zambian government which benefited himself and his family. The indictment notes that Banda instructed his son, Henry, to determine the destination of the funds which were the proceeds of the contract while the Zambian government did not received any benefit. The trial is expected to commence on April 3, 2013. The prosecution of Banda follows the stripping of his immunity by the Zambian Parliament on March 9, 2013 which saw the former leader being interrogated on three occasions by a joint government investigative team.

Banda has assembled a team of six top lawyers who will be his defense team while the prosecution will be led by Director of Public Prosecution Mutembo Nchito.

Banda ruled Zambia from August 2008 to September 2011 when he handed over power peacefully after losing, and has been lauded as a true democrat.

His successor President Michael Sata embarked on an anti corruption crusade immediately after winning the elections and targeted leaders of the former regime whom he accused of looting public resources. Since then a number of senior officials in Banda's administration such as ministers have been questioned while some have been arrested and are appearing in court. His first born son, Andrew, is also appearing in court after he was accused of soliciting for kickbacks from an Italian construction firm. His other son, Henry, is on the run and he is wanted by law enforcement agencies.

Banda becomes the second leader of this southern African nation to be arraigned before a court of law due to corruption allegations. Late former president Frederick Chiluba spent eight years appearing in court after his immunity was stripped after corruption allegations where leveled against him.