Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara (Left) with Former Liberian President, George Weah at the ongoing NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt
Former President of Liberia, Mr. George Weah, has called for an independent judiciary as the bedrock for safeguarding democracy across Africa, warning that democratic systems collapse when courts are weakened by political interference.
Weah made the demand while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The former Liberian leader said democracy is not sustained by elections alone, but by strong institutions, with the judiciary and the legal profession at the centre.
“Democracy does not survive on the strength of elections alone. Elections are merely the doorway into democracy, not the house itself. What keeps democracy standing are institutions, and among the most important of these are an independent judiciary and a principled Bar,” Weah stated.
He warned that threats to democracy are no longer limited to military coups or leaders who reject election results, but also come from elected officials who erode institutional safeguards after assuming office.
“A tyrant with a certificate of return is still a tyrant,” he declared. “Democracy is tested every single day by how those in power treat the courts, parliament and other institutions established to restrain executive excesses.”
The ex-leader described as dangerous, governments that present themselves as democratic but collude with the judiciary to undermine the rule of law and manipulate society. He also raised concerns over undue influence on the judiciary through budgetary controls, politically motivated appointments and pressure on judges in parts of Africa.
“An independent judiciary protected by a fearless judicial bar is needed in every serious nation,” he said. “Once judicial independence is compromised, public trust, investment, security and national stability begin to deteriorate.”
The former president urged lawyers across the country to remain vigilant in defending judicial independence and ensure that court decisions stand without political interference.
Reflecting on his tenure, Weah cited his decision to concede defeat in Liberia’s 2023 presidential election before the final results, saying the will of the people must always supersede personal ambition.
Also speaking, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who declared the conference open, charged judges to be conscious of the broader impact of their rulings on the polity.
Fubara said law, order and national development are inextricably linked to the quality of justice delivered with integrity.
“We cannot continue to insulate our laws from today’s reality; neither should justice remain shackled by unjust precedents, technicalities, inadequate access, undue delays, slavish adherence to rigid processes, political manipulation, or brazen corruption,” the Governor said.
“The prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the Judiciary and the bar.”
He noted that in a democratic society, the legal system defines the relationship between government, institutions and citizens, and that courts serve as the ultimate refuge for the common man to pursue justice and enforce constitutional rights.
“Consequently, we expect that our judges should not be mere apologists or conformists if they are to be the ultimate guardians of our democracy, the rule of law and the advancement of peace and good governance in our country,” Fubara said.
The Governor urged lawyers, as custodians of justice, to rise above constraints and protect the Constitution in line with the conference theme, “Beyond Limits.”
“In Rivers State, we understand what it means to push beyond limits. We have walked through the furnace of power, may have been bruised, yet remain unbowed in our determination to safeguard our unity, peace and progress,” he added.
Outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, said the association returned the conference to Port Harcourt after democratic governance was restored in Rivers State, in keeping with the NBA’s commitment to the rule of law.
Osigwe said Nigeria’s aspiration to be a beacon of Africa remains unrealised due to institutional weaknesses, and challenged lawyers to deepen access to justice, clear case backlogs, embrace technology and uphold ethical standards.
The conference drew judges, legal practitioners, academics and policymakers from across Nigeria and beyond, with discussions focused on judicial independence, democracy, governance reforms and the future of the legal profession in Africa.
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