Human rights lawyer Femi Falana criticises the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for inviting former Liberian President George Weah as a keynote speaker at the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Falana speaks in a video posted on the NBA’s YouTube channel after Weah’s address, questioning whether Weah’s record aligns with the conference’s themes of democracy and the rule of law.
Falana argues that Weah’s administration, which he says lasted from 2018 to 2024, undermines judicial independence in Liberia by allegedly failing to enforce judgments of the ECOWAS Court. He cites examples involving land disputes and the dismissal of a Liberian Supreme Court associate justice, which the ECOWAS Court later voids and orders to be reinstated, along with compensation—claims Falana says were not complied with. He also raises allegations about drug trafficking during Weah’s tenure and mentions the arrest and trial of Weah’s former vice president, Jewel Howard-Taylor.
Across outlets, the tone focuses on Falana’s call for the NBA to be more selective about who it invites. Weah’s keynote message, reported by one outlet, stresses impartiality, an independent judiciary, and institutions over “strong men,” while other coverage concentrates mainly on Falana’s criticism of the invitation.
