Tinubu Appoints Rotimi Oyedepo as DPP

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo, SAN, as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Federal Ministry of Justice, following his transfer of service from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the mainstream Federal Civil Service.

The appointment was conveyed in a letter dated December 23 and signed by Omolabake Mafe on behalf of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). The letter stated that Oyedepo’s appointment was made in the public interest, underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution framework and enhancing efficiency within the justice sector.

Oyedepo will assume the role of Director of Public Prosecutions to fill the vacancy created by the impending retirement of the outgoing DPP, Mr Abubakar Babadoko. Babadoko is expected to retire from service on December 31, 2025, having attained the mandatory eight-year tenure as a director in the federal civil service.

As DPP, Oyedepo is expected to bring extensive prosecutorial experience to bear in overseeing federal criminal prosecutions and coordinating the government’s legal strategy across ministries, departments and agencies. A key expectation of his appointment is the reduction of the Federal Government’s reliance on external legal counsel for major and sensitive prosecutions, as well as ensuring greater coherence, consistency and professionalism in the handling of criminal cases.

The new DPP is also expected to strengthen institutional capacity within the Ministry of Justice, improve case management, and enhance collaboration with law enforcement agencies to ensure more effective prosecution of complex cases, particularly those involving economic and financial crimes.

Oyedepo is a graduate of Law from the University of Ilorin, where he obtained his degree in 2007. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 2008 and was subsequently called to the Bar. Over the years, he has built a reputation as one of the country’s leading prosecutors in the area of financial and economic crimes.

Before his appointment, Oyedepo spent more than 15 years at the EFCC, where he specialised in the prosecution of high-profile and complex economic and financial crime cases. During his time at the anti-graft agency, he also served as the Head of the Monitoring Unit, a role that further strengthened his experience in case supervision and compliance.

He was part of the Federal Government’s legal team in the landmark international arbitration dispute between Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a case widely regarded as one of the most significant legal battles in the country’s history.

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Oyedepo’s contributions to public service have earned him several accolades. He was named EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year in 2014 and was also recognised as the Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor in 2019.

His appointment as Director of Public Prosecutions is widely seen as a strategic move aimed at reinforcing the Federal Government’s resolve to uphold the rule of law and improve the effectiveness of criminal justice administration in Nigeria.