Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has faulted the Nigerian Bar Association for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to speak at its annual conference.
Falana alleged that Weah’s administration weakened judicial independence in Liberia and questioned the appropriateness of giving the former president a platform to speak to Nigerian lawyers about democracy and the rule of law.
The SAN spoke on Monday, a day after Weah delivered the keynote address at the opening of the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Falana urged the NBA to reconsider inviting African leaders whom he described as dictators to its events.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m delighted to be here. But let me say this, because you know I have to be frank with the audience. And this goes for the leadership of the Bar. I want to appeal that the Bar Association must stop—stop inviting dictators in Africa to come and address us,” he said.
He alleged that during Weah’s tenure from 2018 to 2024, Liberia’s judiciary was compromised to the point that citizens had to seek legal redress through the ECOWAS Court.
“Mr. Weah, George Weah, who was here yesterday and was talking about the judiciary: in his country, his regime captured the judiciary to the extent that they had to contact some of us outside the country to get legal redress in the ECOWAS Court,” he said.
Falana referred to a case involving the Mandingo people of Liberia, whose properties were allegedly seized during the country’s civil war. He said although the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour, Weah’s government failed to enforce the judgment.
“The ECOWAS Court gave them judgment. George Weah refused to comply with the judgment. The new government of Boakai has just set up a committee for the enforcement of that judgment,” he said.
He also cited the case of an associate justice of Liberia’s Supreme Court who he alleged was removed from office without justification.
“Again, we went to the ECOWAS Court. The ECOWAS Court set aside his dismissal and awarded him $200,000. He was ordered to be reinstated. Mr. George Weah refused to comply with the judgment,” he said.
Falana questioned why Weah was invited to address Nigerian lawyers on democratic governance and the rule of law despite the allegations he raised about his administration.
“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” Falana said.
The lawyer further accused the former Liberian administration of failing to adequately tackle drug trafficking in the country.
“He ruled Liberia between 2018 and 2024. During his time, drug barons took over the country. Just on the 19th of August, his Vice President, Madam Edith, was arrested… on the 19th of August. She’s currently standing trial for drug trafficking to the tune of $370 million in that poor country.
“So when you now have such a character… You know, during the last World Cup in Qatar, his son, Timothee, was playing for the United States of America, not for Liberia.
“This man left his country for nine days, took the money of that country to go and cheer his son in Qatar. So please, next time you want to invite African leaders, there are some of them that require inviting.”
Falana said the NBA should instead invite African leaders he considers stronger advocates of democracy and good governance. He mentioned Namibia’s female president, vice president and speaker, as well as the late former Premier of Western Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo.
Meanwhile, Weah, during his keynote address, urged lawyers to remain impartial in the administration of justice. He stressed the importance of an independent judiciary supported by a courageous legal profession.
The former Liberian president also said democracy requires strong institutions rather than “strong men”, warning that governments that claim to uphold democracy while weakening judicial independence and the rule of law pose a threat to democratic governance.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who opened the conference on Sunday, also called for an independent judiciary and urged judges to remain courageous and committed to justice regardless of the status or affiliations of those appearing before them.