President Bola Tinubu has given his official approval for the appointment of a seasoned legal practitioner, Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to the crucial position of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This significant move within the Federal Ministry of Justice was confirmed in an official statement released on December 31, 2025.
A Strategic Transfer of Service
The new appointment follows Oyedepo's formal transfer of service from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the mainstream Federal Civil Service. The approval was documented in a letter dated December 23, 2025, which was signed by Omolabake Mafe, acting on behalf of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission. The letter explicitly stated that the appointment was made in the public interest.
According to Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Presidency, Oyedepo's appointment fills the vacancy that arose due to the retirement of the outgoing DPP, Abubakar Babadoko. Babadoko's mandatory eight-year tenure as a director concluded on December 31, 2025.
Profile of the New Chief Prosecutor
Rotimi Oyedepo is a highly respected legal mind with a formidable track record. He is a 2007 law graduate of the University of Ilorin and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008. He brings to his new role a wealth of experience spanning over 15 years, primarily honed during his extensive service at the EFCC.
At the anti-graft agency, Oyedepo specialized in prosecuting intricate economic and financial crimes, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication. His expertise and leadership qualities saw him rise to become the head of the commission's Monitoring Unit. His professional accolades include:
- EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year award in 2014.
- Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor award in 2019.
Beyond his EFCC duties, Oyedepo played a pivotal role as a key member of the Federal Government's legal team in the landmark international arbitration case, Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) vs The Federal Republic of Nigeria. This case is widely considered one of Nigeria's most critical and consequential legal battles on the global stage.
Mandate and Expected Impact
The Presidency's statement outlined clear expectations for the new Director of Public Prosecutions. Oyedepo is tasked with deploying his considerable expertise to achieve several key objectives for the federal government's legal framework.
His primary mandates include strengthening the quality and strategic coordination of federal prosecutions across the board. A major focus will be on reducing the government's reliance on external counsel, especially in high-profile and sensitive cases. This move is designed to ensure greater internal capacity, coherence, and consistency in the Federal Government's legal strategies and courtroom presentations.
This appointment is seen as a strategic step towards bolstering the institutional capability of the justice ministry, leveraging homegrown talent with a proven record in handling complex legal matters that are of national importance.
