Senior Lawyer Points Out NBA’s Failure In 2026 Port Harcourt Conference

Senior Lawyer Points Out NBA’s Failure

 

OpenLife News reports that Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has accused the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, of a major misstep for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to speak at its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Falana said the invitation was wrong because Weah’s administration, between 2018 and 2024, allegedly undermined judicial independence in Liberia and ignored judgments of the ECOWAS Court.

The senior lawyer made the remarks in a video posted on the NBA’s YouTube channel on Monday, a day after Weah delivered the keynote address at the conference held under the theme “Beyond Limits.”

“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 said.

Allegations Against Weah’s Administration

Falana alleged that under Weah, Liberia’s judiciary was “captured” to the point that citizens had to seek legal redress outside the country.

He cited the case of the Mandingo people vs Liberia, involving persons whose properties were allegedly seized during the war. According to him, the ECOWAS Court ruled in their favour but Weah’s government refused to comply.

“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 referenced the case of an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia who was allegedly dismissed without basis. He said the ECOWAS Court set aside the dismissal and awarded the judge $200,000, with an order for reinstatement.

“Mr. George Weah refused to comply with the judgment,” Falana alleged.

The SAN further queried why the NBA would invite Weah to speak on democracy and the rule of law given the allegations.

“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” he said.

Falana further accused Weah’s administration of allowing drug trafficking to flourish. He said on August 19, Weah’s Vice President, Madam Edith, was arrested and is currently standing trial for alleged drug trafficking to the tune of $370 million.

He also criticised Weah for allegedly abandoning governance to attend the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

“During the last World Cup in Qatar, his son, Timothee, was playing for the United States of America, not for Liberia. This man left his country for nine days, took the money of that country to go and cheer his son in Qatar,” Falana said.

Who Should NBA Invite?

Falana urged the NBA leadership to be more deliberate in choosing speakers. He suggested leaders like the President, Vice President and Speaker of Namibia, who are all women, and Nigeria’s late Obafemi Awolowo as examples of leaders worthy of invitation.

Weah And Fubara’s Addresses

Despite the criticism, Weah in his keynote address urged lawyers and judges to remain impartial. He said an independent judiciary, protected by a fearless legal profession, was necessary in every nation.

“Democracy is tested every day and cannot survive on ‘strong men’ but on strong institutions,” Weah said.

He also warned against governments that claim to be democratic but are corrupt and collude with judges to undermine the rule of law.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who declared the conference open on Sunday, also called for an independent and courageous judiciary, saying judges must uphold the truth irrespective of status or social affiliations.

The Bigger Picture

The 66th NBA Annual General Conference held in Port Harcourt attracted thousands of lawyers from across the country and abroad. But Falana’s remarks have sparked debate within the legal community on the NBA’s criteria for selecting guest speakers and its role in defending judicial independence across Africa.