Breaking: Tinubu Names Rotimi Oyedepo Director of Public Prosecution
In a major move to overhaul the federal justice system, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved the appointment of Wahab Shittu, SAN, and the veteran anti-graft czar, Rotimi Oyedepo Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation. The announcement, made on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, marks a significant shift in the Ministry of Justice’s approach to criminal litigation and high-profile state cases. Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a legendary prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), steps into this pivotal role at a time when the federal government is under immense pressure to deliver tangible results in its anti-corruption crusade.
Rotimi Oyedepo has long been regarded as the “prosecutor-in-chief” within Nigeria’s legal circles, specifically known for his unparalleled success in the asset recovery regime. Over the last decade, he has been the lead counsel in some of the most complex and high-stakes financial crime cases in the nation’s history. His track record includes the successful recovery of billions of Naira and high-value real estate from top-tier political figures and corporate titans. Legal analysts suggest that his elevation to the role of Rotimi Oyedepo Director of Public Prosecution is a strategic signal that the Tinubu administration intends to move beyond mere investigations and secure definitive convictions that result in the forfeiture of illicit wealth to the state.
The Office of the DPP is the engine room of the Federal Ministry of Justice, responsible for the prosecution of all federal crimes, ranging from terrorism and money laundering to cybercrime and economic sabotage. By choosing Oyedepo, a man who has spent his entire career in the trenches of the courtroom, the Presidency is prioritizing technical expertise over political patronage. Oyedepo’s reputation for meticulous preparation and his deep understanding of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) are expected to reduce the rate of technical losses in court, which have previously hampered the government’s efforts to hold powerful individuals accountable.
This appointment is also viewed as a vote of confidence in the career progression of those working within Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies. Oyedepo’s journey from a young EFCC prosecutor to the Director of Public Prosecution for the entire federation serves as an inspiration to legal officers across the civil service. As he assumes office under the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the expectations are high. The legal community is watching closely to see how he will harmonize the various prosecutorial units across the country to create a more efficient, transparent, and lethal machinery for the state to combat organized crime and corruption.