Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association’s decision to invite former Liberian President George Weah to its ongoing annual conference.
Falana urged the NBA to stop inviting what he described as “dictators in Africa” to speak to Nigerian lawyers.
He made the remarks on Tuesday, August 25, during the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, shortly after Weah delivered a keynote address at the event.
During his address, Weah urged Nigerian lawyers to defend judicial independence and resist attempts by political leaders to weaken institutions that safeguard democracy.
Falana, however, accused the former Liberian president of undermining judicial independence during his 2018–2024 tenure, alleging that his administration interfered with the judiciary.
“This goes for the leadership of the bar. I want to appeal that the bar association must stop inviting dictators in Africa to come and address us,” Falana said.
He specifically referred to Weah’s remarks on the judiciary, alleging that his administration had weakened judicial independence in Liberia to the extent that affected individuals had to seek legal redress outside the country through the ECOWAS Court.
Falana cited the case of the Mandingo people, whose properties were allegedly seized during Liberia’s civil war. He said the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour but alleged that Weah’s administration refused to implement the judgment.
According to Falana, the current Liberian government led by President Joseph Boakai has since established a committee to facilitate enforcement of the ruling.
He also cited the case of former Liberian Supreme Court Associate Justice Kabineh Muhammad Jan’neh, whom he said was removed from office without justification.
Falana alleged that the ECOWAS Court later overturned Jan’neh’s dismissal, awarded him $200,000 in compensation and ordered his reinstatement, but claimed that Weah’s administration failed to comply with the judgment.
“That is the man coming here to talk about the rule of law and democracy. He ruled Liberia between 2018 and 2024. During his time, drug barons took over the country,” Falana added.
Weah served as Liberia’s president from 2018 to 2024 after a distinguished football career. He remains the only African player to have won both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, which he received in 1995.
