In a significant development for Nigeria’s legal system, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The appointment comes with the official transfer of Oyedepo’s service from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to the mainstream Federal Civil Service, highlighting the government’s intention to strengthen internal prosecutorial capacity.
A letter dated December 23, signed by Omolabake Mafe on behalf of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), stated that Oyedepo’s appointment was made “in the public interest.”
He will fill the vacancy created by the impending retirement of Mr. Abubakar Babadoko, who will complete the mandatory eight-year tenure as DPP on December 31, 2025.
Professional Background and Achievements
Mr. Oyedepo is a 2007 Law graduate from the University of Ilorin and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008 after completing the Nigerian Law School.
He spent over 15 years at the EFCC, specialising in the prosecution of complex economic and financial crimes. During his tenure, he also served as Head of the Monitoring Unit and earned notable accolades, including EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year (2014), and Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor (2019).
He also played a key role in the Federal Government’s legal team during the landmark Process and Industrial Development (P&ID), arbitration case, demonstrating his capacity to handle high-stakes, complex litigation.
Mandate as Director of Public Prosecutions
As DPP, Mr. Oyedepo is expected to reduce reliance on external counsel for critical prosecutions and ensure greater coherence and consistency in the Federal Government’s legal strategies.
His appointment reflects a broader push to consolidate prosecutorial expertise within the justice system and enhance the government’s capacity to manage high-profile criminal and financial cases.
Significance
Oyedepo’s appointment underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s legal institutions and ensuring that the Federal Ministry of Justice has highly experienced, homegrown legal expertise at its helm.
As the country faces complex legal challenges, his leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law, advancing judicial efficiency, and enhancing prosecutorial effectiveness across the federal government.
