Falana Faults NBA Over George Weah Invitation, Urges Bar to Shun Leaders Who Defy Court Judgments
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to address its annual conference, accusing Weah’s administration of undermining judicial independence in Liberia.
The senior lawyer made the remarks in a video posted on the NBA’s YouTube channel on Monday, following Weah’s keynote address at the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
“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 under Weah’s regime (2018–2024), the judiciary was captured to the point that Liberians sought legal redress outside the country at 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 the case of Mandingo people against Liberia, involving people whose landed properties were allegedly seized during the war.
He said the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour but alleged that Weah refused to comply with 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.
Falana also cited the case of an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia who, he alleged, was dismissed without basis.
“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.
He questioned the decision to invite Weah to address lawyers on democracy and the rule of law despite the allegations.
“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” Falana said.
He also accused Weah’s administration of allowing drug trafficking to flourish in Liberia, although he did not provide details of the allegation.
The senior lawyer added, “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 noted the president, vice president and speaker of Namibia, who are all female, and in Nigeria, late former premier of Western Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo, as worthy of invitation.
Meanwhile, Weah, who delivered the keynote address at the conference, had urged lawyers and judges to remain impartial in the delivery of justice.
He said an independent judiciary, protected by a fearless legal profession, was necessary in every nation.
Weah also said democracy was tested every day and could not survive on “strong men” but on strong institutions.
The former Liberian president described governments that claim to be democratic but are corrupt and collude with judges to undermine the rule of law and manipulate society as a dangerous threat to democracy.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who declared the conference open on Sunday, also called for an independent and courageous judiciary, saying judges must uphold the truth irrespective of status or social affiliations.
The 66th NBA Annual General Conference was held in Port Harcourt under the theme, “Beyond Limits.”
