The Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN) has inaugurated a new executive committee to pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt House, Rivers State, was held on the sidelines of the NBA 2026 Annual General Conference, themed “Beyond Limits.”
The newly inaugurated executive is led by Comrade Ernest Uyi Edomwonyi as President, with Comrade Dr. Abdullahi Wahab Zakari as First Vice President and Comrade Nwaneka Chukwuba as Second Vice President.
Other members of the executive are Comrade Andrew Umoh, Third Vice President, South-South; Comrade Felix Oyewole Awoniyi, Third Vice President, South-West; Comrade Nuhu Alhaji Tanko, Third Vice President, North-East; and Comrade Abdullahi Aminu Shams, Third Vice President, North-West.
Also inaugurated were Comrade Adesoji Afolabi, Secretary-General; Comrade Maxwell Willie Ishwsah, First Assistant Secretary; Comrade A.E. Arogundade, Second Assistant Secretary; Comrade Victor Aondongu Nyamtamen, Financial Secretary; Comrade Moses Onoriode Agwere, Treasurer; Comrade Anthony Omah Wamah, Publicity Secretary; Comrade Omoloye Anthony, Welfare Secretary; and Comrade Omokhogie Kadiri Isaac, Assistant Publicity Secretary.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated LOAN President, Comrade Ernest Uyi Edomwonyi, on behalf of the executive, expressed appreciation to members and stakeholders for their support and confidence in the new leadership.
Edomwonyi pledged that the new administration would operate a law-based administration driven by equity, fairness and qualitative service delivery, adding that the executive would work diligently to advance the interests of law officers across the country.
He commended the Edo State Attorney-General, Prof. Roland Itoyah Otaru, SAN, whom he described as a “real father” to LOAN, for his support for the association and the Ministry of Justice.
According to him, the appointment of five Permanent Secretaries from the Edo State Ministry of Justice within a few months of Otaru’s assumption of office was unprecedented and demonstrated his commitment to the development of the ministry.
The LOAN President also called for improved remuneration for law officers, advocating a unified salary structure for law officers nationwide.
He said the issue of a unified salary structure would be vigorously pursued through engagement with relevant stakeholders, questioning why law officers should have different salary structures when medical doctors operate under a unified structure.
Edomwonyi further advocated the provision of modern research tools to enhance the effectiveness of law officers in court, stressing the importance of regular capacity-building programmes and professional training for lawyers.
He also commended the Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, who was represented at the ceremony by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN.
He noted that under Ohwovoriole’s leadership, the Delta State Ministry of Justice had made it a policy to sponsor all law officers and non-legal directors to attend the NBA Annual General Conference.
He further praised the Attorney-General for promoting continuous in-house training and capacity building for both legal and non-legal staff, as well as supporting participation in conferences and professional programmes outside the state.
Speaking after the inauguration, the Chairman of the ceremony and Edo State Attorney-General, Prof. Roland Itoyah Otaru, SAN, assured members of LOAN of his commitment to advancing the welfare and professional development of law officers.
Otaru called for improved welfare, logistics and working conditions for lawyers, particularly law officers who travel within and outside their states to handle cases.
He stressed the need to address the challenges confronting law officers in the discharge of their professional responsibilities, noting that improved working conditions would enhance their effectiveness and contribute to better justice delivery.