Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to address its annual conference in Port Harcourt.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, questioned the decision to give Mr Weah a platform at the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference, particularly on issues relating to democracy, the rule of law and judicial independence.
The former Liberian president delivered the keynote address at the opening of the conference on Sunday, 23 August, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event is being held under the theme “Beyond Limits.”
Speaking during the conference, Mr Falana urged the NBA to reconsider its practice of inviting African leaders whom he described as dictators to address members of the legal profession.
He alleged that the judiciary was weakened during Mr Weah’s presidency, which lasted from 2018 to 2024, claiming that some Liberians were forced to seek legal redress through the ECOWAS Court.
Mr Falana cited the case involving members of Liberia’s Mandingo community, whose properties were allegedly seized during the country’s civil war. He said the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour, but alleged that the Weah administration failed to enforce the judgment.
He also referred to the case of a former associate justice of Liberia’s Supreme Court, alleging that the judge was removed from office without proper justification. According to Mr Falana, the ECOWAS Court subsequently ordered the judge’s reinstatement and awarded compensation.
“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” Mr Falana said, according to reports of his remarks.
His criticism came shortly after Mr Weah used his keynote address to urge lawyers and judges to defend judicial independence and protect democratic institutions.
Mr Weah warned against governments that claim to uphold democracy while undermining the independence of the judiciary, manipulating institutions or interfering with the work of judges.
The NBA’s annual conference, which runs from 21 to 28 August in Port Harcourt, has brought together lawyers, judges, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s legal profession and democratic development.
Mr Falana’s intervention has nevertheless introduced a sharp debate over the suitability of former political leaders as keynote speakers at professional gatherings, particularly when their records on democracy and the rule of law remain contested.
