Falana faults NBA for inviting George Weah, says dictators should not address lawyers

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has faulted the Nigerian Bar Association for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to deliver a keynote address at its annual conference.

Falana accused the former Liberian administration of interfering with the country’s judiciary and questioned his suitability to lecture Nigerian lawyers on democracy, judicial independence and the rule of law.

He made the remarks on Monday, a day after Weah addressed the opening ceremony of the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Falana called on the NBA leadership to stop inviting African leaders he considers dictators to speak at 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.

According to Falana, Liberia’s judiciary was severely compromised during Weah’s presidency between 2018 and 2024, forcing some citizens to seek justice outside the country.

“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.

He pointed to the case of the Mandingo people, whose landed properties were allegedly taken during Liberia’s civil war.

Falana said the ECOWAS Court ruled in favour of the affected people but accused Weah of refusing to implement 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 raised the case of an associate justice of Liberia’s Supreme Court who, according to him, was unjustifiably removed from office.

“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,” Falana said.

He then questioned why Weah was invited to address Nigerian lawyers on democratic governance and the rule of law.

“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” he said.

Falana further accused the former administration of failing to adequately tackle drug trafficking in Liberia, citing the reported arrest of Weah’s former vice president.

“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,” he said.

He also criticised Weah over an incident involving his son, Timothee, who represented the United States at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“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 urged the NBA to consider inviting African leaders whom he said had shown greater commitment to democracy and good governance. He named Namibia’s female president, vice president and speaker, along with the late former Premier of Western Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo.

In his keynote address, however, Weah urged lawyers to maintain impartiality in the administration of justice.

He said countries need independent judiciaries supported by fearless legal professionals, stressing that democracy is constantly tested and cannot depend on “strong men” but on strong institutions.

Weah warned that governments that claim to uphold democracy while tolerating corruption, colluding with judges and weakening the rule of law threaten democratic governance.

Also speaking at the conference, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara called for a strong and independent judiciary.

Fubara, who declared the conference open on Sunday, urged judges to remain courageous and committed to truth irrespective of the social standing or affiliations of those before them.

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