Former President of Liberia, Mr George Weah, has warned that democracy in Africa could be undermined if judicial institutions are weakened and unable to effectively carry out their duties
Weah, who delivered the keynote address at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday, also emphasised the crucial role of the bar and the bench in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of citizens
He charged lawyers and judges to remain impartial in the administration of justice in order to continue to safeguard democracy across the continent
Weah said, “The independent judiciary protected by a fearless judicial bar, is needed in every serious nation, because threats to democracy do not come only from the barrel of a gun or a defeated leader who refuses to hand over power, but from a situation where the judicial institutions might be weakened and unable to carry out their own duties
“Democracy doesn’t end on election night, but it is tested every single day, because democracy cannot survive on strong men but on strong institutions”
The former Liberian leader described governments that call themselves democratic but are corrupt and work with judges to undermine the rule of law and manipulate society as a dangerous threat to democracy
Speaking earlier, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, charged judges responsible for the administration of law and justice to consider the overall impact of their judgments on the polity, saying law and order, as well as the rate of national development, are inextricably linked to the quality of justice the courts can deliver with integrity
He said judges must ensure that nothing but the truth prevails at all times, irrespective of the parties’ status or social affiliations
He said, “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 prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the Judiciary and the bar.
“Judiciary is also essential to any country seeking to foster true democracy, good governance, and economic development”
According to the Governor, the courts are not merely venues for resolving social disputes; they serve as the ultimate refuge for all, including the common man, to pursue true justice, accountability, human dignity and the enforcement of their legal and constitutional rights
He added, “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”