Human rights crusader Femi Falana has fired shots at the Nigerian Bar Association for rolling out the red carpet for former Liberian President George Weah at its annual conference — and his reasons are hard to ignore.
Femi Falana, one of Nigeria’s most vocal and fearless human rights lawyers, has taken the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to the cleaners over its decision to extend an invitation to former Liberian President George Weah as a guest at its ongoing annual conference.
For many Nigerians, George Weah is a legend — the Ballon d’Or winner, the boy from the slums of Monrovia who became the greatest African footballer of his generation. But Falana is reminding everyone that the man in a suit is not the same as the man in football boots, and that Weah’s record as a statesman deserves far more scrutiny than his record on the pitch.
What Is Falana’s Beef?
According to the renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), inviting Weah to a gathering of legal minds sends the wrong message — especially when the former Liberian leader has serious questions to answer about his handling of judicial independence during his time in power.
Falana accused Weah of effectively capturing Liberia’s judiciary during his presidency, alleging that the former football icon undermined the rule of law and the independence of the courts in a manner that should make any self-respecting association of lawyers deeply uncomfortable.
For an organisation like the NBA — which exists, at least in principle, to uphold the rule of law, defend the constitution, and protect the rights of citizens — rolling out the welcome mat for someone accused of doing the exact opposite is, in Falana’s view, a contradiction that cannot be swept under the carpet.
“NBA Should Know Better”
Falana’s criticism cuts deep because it goes beyond George Weah as an individual. It is a challenge to the Nigerian Bar Association to live up to its own values.
Nigeria itself is no stranger to executive interference in the judiciary. Lawyers across the country have spent decades fighting for judicial independence, battling corrupt judges, and calling out governments that attempt to use the courts as personal tools. For the NBA to now celebrate a leader allegedly guilty of the same sins, Falana argues, is nothing short of hypocrisy.
His message to the association is clear: stop it.
The George Weah Many Forget
When Weah was elected President of Liberia in 2018, it was celebrated across Africa as a triumph of the common man — a street kid turned global football icon, now leading his nation. The romance of the story was undeniable.
But governance is not football. And by the time Weah lost his re-election bid in 2023 to Joseph Boakai, his administration had attracted significant criticism over corruption, economic mismanagement, and — as Falana is now highlighting — interference with the judiciary.
Why This Matters for Nigeria
Nigerians have every reason to pay attention to this conversation. The integrity of the judiciary is one of the most critical battles being fought in this country right now. From landmark Supreme Court rulings to election petition tribunals, the independence — or lack thereof — of Nigerian courts directly affects millions of lives.
If the NBA, as the umbrella body of Nigerian lawyers, cannot hold itself to a standard of consistency on issues of judicial independence, then who will?
Falana’s call-out is not just about George Weah. It is a mirror held up to an association that must decide what it truly stands for — beyond annual conferences, fine suits, and celebrity guests.
The NBA is yet to officially respond to Falana’s criticism at the time of this report.
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