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.
