Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over its decision to invite former Liberian President George Weah to its annual conference.
Falana said the NBA should be more careful about inviting African leaders whom he accused of failing to respect democratic principles and the rule of law.
He made the remarks in a video published on the NBA’s YouTube channel.
Falana Accuses Weah of Undermining Judiciary
The senior lawyer alleged that during Weah’s tenure as Liberian president, the independence of the judiciary was undermined and court decisions were disregarded.
Weah governed Liberia from 2018 to 2024.
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Falana claimed that the situation became so serious that some Liberians were forced to seek justice at the ECOWAS Court.
He urged the Nigerian Bar Association to reconsider its approach to inviting former African leaders to speak at its programmes.
“Stop inviting dictators in Africa to come and address us,” Falana said, while addressing the issue during his remarks.
Weah Addressed NBA Conference
Weah was a keynote speaker at the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
During the conference, the former Liberian president warned against authoritarian leadership, saying that a tyrant remains a tyrant even after securing a Certificate of Return.
Falana, however, questioned the decision to provide Weah with a platform, citing what he described as the former president’s record on democracy and judicial independence.
The criticism has sparked debate over the choice of political figures invited to address professional and civic institutions in Nigeria.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.