New role, higher stakes: Olajengbesi challenges Oyedepo to beat EFCC record as DPP

Human rights lawyer and public affairs analyst, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has urged newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), to outperform his prosecution record at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he assumes his new national role.

Olajengbesi made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday, following Oyedepo’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu and his transfer from the EFCC to the mainstream Federal Civil Service. Oyedepo is expected to take over from the incumbent DPP, Abubakar Babadoko, who will retire on December 31, 2025, after completing the statutory eight-year tenure as a director.

According to Olajengbesi, Oyedepo’s elevation to the position of DPP is well-earned, given his long-standing record in the prosecution of complex economic and financial crimes. He described the appointment as a recognition of merit, professionalism, and years of consistent service within Nigeria’s anti-graft architecture.

“The appointment of Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) as the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice is applaudable,” Olajengbesi said. “Over the years, the learned silk has demonstrated capacity and competence in the diligent prosecution of complex economic and financial crimes.”

Oyedepo spent nearly two decades at the EFCC, where he rose through the ranks and handled several high-profile and landmark corruption cases. Olajengbesi noted that these cases, many of which were successfully prosecuted, stand as evidence of Oyedepo’s dedication, attention to detail, and adherence to the rule of law.

However, the human rights lawyer stressed that the new role comes with greater responsibility and heightened public expectations. He described the DPP’s office as central to the effectiveness of the justice system, particularly in shaping prosecution policy and ensuring consistency in criminal proceedings across federal courts.

“This latest appointment is a call to higher responsibility and patriotic duty,” Olajengbesi said. “It is only desirable that Oyedepo surpass the fine records he achieved at the EFCC now that he has been appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice.”

He added that the Ministry of Justice would rely heavily on Oyedepo’s expertise to strengthen in-house prosecution capacity and reduce dependence on external legal counsel in sensitive and high-stakes criminal cases.

“Oyedepo’s work is cut out for him,” Olajengbesi concluded. “The justice sector will expect renewed vigour, efficiency, and professionalism from his office. Indeed, the reward for hard work is more work.”

Athekame Kenneth is a politics, economy, and finance reporter whose work is anchored in sharp investigative storytelling. He brings analytical depth to every piece, drawing on a strong academic foundation that includes a degree in Economics, an MBA in International Trade, and a minor in Petroleum Economics from Lagos State University, Ojo. His reporting blends rigorous research with a keen eye for hidden truths, delivering stories that illuminate power, policy, and the forces shaping everyday lives.

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