Tinubu Appoints New Director of Public Prosecutions

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given official approval for the appointment of Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The confirmation of this appointment was conveyed through a formal correspondence dated December 23, which was signed by Omolabake Mafe on behalf of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission. The letter clarified that Oyedepo’s movement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the mainstream Federal Civil Service was executed strictly in the interest of the public.

A separate disclosure released on Tuesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, stated that Oyedepo will officially take over from Abubakar Babadoko. Babadoko is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025, having completed the compulsory eight-year tenure permitted for directors within the federal service structure.

Rotimi Oyedepo’s academic background reveals that he earned his law degree in 2007 from the University of Ilorin, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 2008. His educational foundation laid the groundwork for what later became an extensive legal career in public prosecution and financial crime litigation.

According to the State House statement, Oyedepo is expected to apply his vast legal knowledge to minimise the Federal Government’s dependence on external legal practitioners, especially in sensitive and high-profile prosecutions. His appointment is also aimed at achieving better coordination, uniformity, and clarity in the government’s overall legal approach.

Before assuming this new role, Oyedepo served at the EFCC for more than 15 years, where he focused heavily on complex economic and financial crime prosecutions. During his time at the commission, he held several strategic positions, including his role as Head of the Monitoring Unit, where he oversaw critical legal and compliance processes.

His professional experience also includes being part of the Federal Government’s legal team in the internationally significant Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) versus Federal Republic of Nigeria arbitration case. That case remains one of the most consequential legal disputes involving Nigeria on the global stage.

Oyedepo’s contributions to public service have earned him notable recognition. He was awarded EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year in 2014, followed by being named Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor in 2019, highlighting his consistency, diligence, and expertise within the legal enforcement system.

With this appointment, the Federal Government signals a renewed commitment to strengthening internal legal capacity and improving prosecution efficiency across ministries and agencies