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Lastest News Nigeria, Politics, Business, Sport, Interview
By News Desk
The lawyer to South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma has said that his client will appeal against a court ruling that he stand trial on corruption charges.
Zuma’s last-minute appeal will delay the case over bribery allegations dating back to a 1990s arms deal, a charge he dismissed as a conspiracy.
The trial would be the first time Zuma faced a court on graft charges, despite a string of accusations over his long political career.
The High Court in the southeastern city of Pietermaritzburg last week rejected his request to have charges of fraud, graft and racketeering dismissed, clearing the way for the trial to start on Tuesday.
But Zuma’s lawyer Thabani Masuku told the court on Tuesday at the start of the trial that the ex-president would appeal, dragging on a case that has seen numerous legal twists over 15 years.
“Mr Zuma would like to exercise the full extent of his constitutional rights, which includes the right to appeal,” Masuku said.
Outside the court, Zuma told a small crowd of supporters that “there have been many conspirators against me”.
He was forced to resign as president last year by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party after a nine-year reign marred by corruption allegations and dwindling popularity.
Source: AFP
