FALANA CRITICISES NBA OVER INVITATION TO EX-LIBERIAN PRESIDENT GEORGE WEAH

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 questioned the appropriateness of inviting Weah to address Nigerian lawyers on democracy and the rule of law.

Falana made his position known in a video shared on the NBA’s YouTube channel following Weah’s keynote address at the conference. He urged the leadership of the association to reconsider its practice of inviting African political leaders whom he described as dictators to speak at its events.

The senior lawyer alleged that Weah’s administration, which governed Liberia between 2018 and 2024, undermined the independence of the judiciary. He cited cases in which individuals reportedly sought legal redress at the ECOWAS Court after failing to obtain satisfactory remedies through Liberia’s judicial system.

Falana specifically referred to a case involving members of the Mandingo community whose properties were allegedly seized during the war. He said the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour but alleged that the judgment was not implemented during Weah’s administration. He also mentioned the case of a Liberian Supreme Court associate justice who was reportedly dismissed and later obtained an ECOWAS Court judgment ordering his reinstatement and awarding him $200,000.

He therefore questioned why Weah was invited to speak to lawyers about democracy and the rule of law despite the allegations against his administration. Meanwhile, Weah, in his address at the NBA conference, warned that democracy could be threatened when elected leaders begin to govern like dictators, stressing the importance of strong institutions and an independent judiciary