Falana blasts NBA for inviting former Liberian President Weah to annual conference

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to its annual conference. In a video on NBA's YouTube channel, Falana claimed that Weah's presidency undermined judicial independence and ignored court rulings. Weah delivered a keynote speech at the NBA's 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he stated, "A tyrant with a Certificate of Return remains a tyrant."

Falana urged the NBA to be cautious when inviting African leaders who have not upheld democratic norms and the rule of law, saying, "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."

Falana added that during Weah's tenure from 2018 to 2024, the Liberian judiciary was weakened to such an extent that people needed to seek justice at the ECOWAS Court.