Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association over its decision to invite former Liberian President, George Weah, to speak at its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Falana, in a video shared on the NBA’s YouTube channel on Monday, urged the association to reconsider its practice of inviting African leaders whom he described as dictators to address members of the legal profession.
The senior lawyer questioned Weah’s suitability to speak on democracy and the rule of law, alleging that his administration, which lasted from 2018 to 2024, undermined judicial independence in Liberia.
According to Falana, some Liberians were compelled to seek legal redress at the ECOWAS Court because of what he described as the alleged capture of the judiciary under Weah’s government.
He cited the case of members of the Mandingo community, whose properties were allegedly seized during the Liberian civil war, saying the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour.
Falana alleged that Weah’s government failed to comply with the judgment, adding that the current administration of President Joseph Boakai had established a committee to facilitate its enforcement.
He also referred to the case of a former associate justice of Liberia’s Supreme Court, who, according to Falana, was removed from office without justification.
He said the ECOWAS Court subsequently ordered the judge’s reinstatement and awarded $200,000 in compensation, but alleged that Weah’s administration refused to implement the judgment.
“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” Falana said.
The human rights lawyer also made allegations concerning drug trafficking during Weah’s administration, though he did not provide supporting details in the remarks.
Falana’s comments came a day after Weah delivered the keynote address at the NBA conference, where the former Liberian leader called on lawyers and judges to uphold justice without fear or favour.
Weah said an independent judiciary, supported by a courageous legal profession, was essential to the survival of democracy.
He warned that governments that profess democracy while undermining judicial independence, colluding with judges and manipulating institutions posed a serious threat to democratic governance.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who declared the conference open, also called for an independent and courageous judiciary, urging judges to uphold the truth regardless of the status or social affiliations of those before them.
The 66th NBA Annual General Conference is being held in Port Harcourt under the theme, “Beyond Limits.”