Falana Challenges NBA Over George Weah Invitation

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has questioned the decision of the Nigerian Bar Association to invite former Liberian President George Weah to address Nigerian lawyers at its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

Falana said the NBA should be more careful when selecting African leaders to speak at events organised for members of the legal profession, arguing that the records of invited personalities should reflect the values of democracy, justice and respect for the rule of law.

The senior lawyer made the comments in a video published on the NBA’s YouTube channel on Monday, a day after Weah delivered the keynote address at the conference.

Falana’s main concern was Weah’s record on the judiciary during his time as Liberia’s president between 2018 and 2024. He alleged that the judiciary became so compromised under the former president that some Liberians had to seek legal remedies outside their country through the ECOWAS Court. 

He specifically referred to the case involving the Mandingo people of Liberia, whose properties were allegedly taken during the country’s civil war. Falana said the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour but alleged that the judgment was not implemented during Weah’s administration.

He also mentioned the case of a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, who, according to Falana, was removed from office without proper justification.

Falana said the ECOWAS Court later overturned the dismissal, awarded the judge $200,000 and ordered his reinstatement. He alleged that Weah’s government did not comply with the judgment. 

The lawyer therefore questioned the choice of Weah as a keynote speaker at a gathering of lawyers when the former Liberian president was being invited to speak about issues including democracy and the rule of law.

His criticism came just one day after Weah himself used the NBA conference to speak strongly about the importance of independent institutions. The former Liberian leader told lawyers that democracy cannot depend on “strong men” but must be supported by strong institutions. 

Weah also warned that leaders who present themselves as democrats while undermining institutions, working with corrupt officials or interfering with judges pose a serious danger to democracy.

Falana further accused Weah’s administration of allowing drug trafficking to flourish in Liberia, although the report did not provide further details supporting that particular allegation. 

The disagreement has therefore created an unusual contrast at the NBA conference: Weah using the platform to defend strong democratic institutions, while Falana is questioning whether his own record in office makes him an appropriate person to address Nigerian lawyers on those same principles.

The controversy also places the spotlight on the NBA’s choice of speakers and the standards it applies when inviting political leaders and former heads of government to address the legal profession.

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