Tinubu Appoints Rotimi Oyedepo As New Director of Public Prosecutions

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo 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 approval, conveyed in a letter dated December 23 and signed by Omolabake Mafe on behalf of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, stated that the appointment was made in the public interest.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Presidency, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Oyedepo’s appointment fills the vacancy created by the impending retirement of the incumbent DPP, Abubakar Babadoko, who completes the mandatory eight-year tenure as a director on Tuesday.

Oyedepo, a 2007 law graduate of the University of Ilorin who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008, brings over 15 years of prosecutorial experience to the role.

During his time at the EFCC, he specialised in the prosecution of complex economic and financial crimes and rose to head the commission’s Monitoring Unit.

He also played a prominent role as a member of the Federal Government’s legal team in the high-profile arbitration case of Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) vs The Federal Republic of Nigeria, a dispute widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most consequential international legal battles with significant fiscal and reputational implications.

The Presidency said the new DPP is expected to deploy his expertise to strengthen the quality, coordination and efficiency of federal prosecutions, reduce reliance on external legal counsel in high-profile cases and ensure greater coherence and consistency in the Federal Government’s legal strategies.

Oyedepo’s professional record has earned him several accolades, including the EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year award in 2014 and the Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor award in 2019.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions plays a central role in Nigeria’s justice system, overseeing federal criminal prosecutions and shaping the government’s legal strategy in cases involving economic and financial crimes.

The appointment comes amid renewed efforts by the Tinubu administration to strengthen institutions, improve accountability and enhance enforcement of financial regulations as part of broader economic and governance reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence and sustaining business growth.