Rotimi Iseoluwa Oyedepo, SAN, the newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the Federal Ministry of Justice, formally assumed office this week, promising to bolster Nigeria’s prosecution system through professionalism, independence and strict commitment to the rule of law.
Oyedepo’s assumption of duty on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, follows his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approved on December 30, 2025, and communicated in a letter dated December 23, 2025 signed by Omolabake Mafe on behalf of the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
He succeeds Abubakar Babadoko, the outgoing DPP who retired on December 31, 2025, after completing the mandatory eight-year tenure in the position.
Before his elevation to the nation’s top prosecutorial post, Oyedepo served with distinction at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for 15 years, where he also held the role of Head of the Monitoring Unit.
Throughout his EFCC tenure, he built a reputation for his involvement in high-profile financial crimes prosecutions and legal enforcement. His experience there, supporters say, positions him to bring a fresh focus on evidence-based legal strategies in federal prosecutorial practice.
In a statement issued soon after taking office, Oyedepo expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, for entrusting him with the responsibility.
“I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming goodwill, prayers, and congratulatory messages following my appointment as Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation,” he said. “This appointment is a solemn call to service.”
He emphasised that prosecutorial decisions under his leadership will be guided solely by “law, evidence, and the public interest,” and anchored on “fairness, diligence, and integrity.”
Looking ahead, Oyedepo pledged to engage constructively with relevant stakeholders to shape a prosecution system that is “credible, formidable, and future-ready,” reinforcing public trust in the nation’s criminal justice processes.
Legal analysts and civil society observers have described Oyedepo’s elevation as a strategic move to strengthen domestic prosecutorial capacity, particularly in reducing reliance on external counsel for government cases and ensuring enhanced coherence in prosecution policies.
Human rights advocate Pelumi Olajengbesi and other commentators have urged the new DPP to build on his extensive prosecutorial record at the EFCC, setting high standards for performance in his expanded national role.
His appointment comes at a critical juncture as Nigeria continues to refine its criminal justice system, balance prosecutorial independence with accountability, and reinforce the supremacy of law in public governance.
