Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN: The Prosecutor Behind Nigeria’s Expanding Asset Recovery Regime

By

Michael Ojo

In Nigeria’s fight against corruption, the most consequential battles are often waged not in the court of public opinion but in the courtroom—where evidence, procedure, and legal strategy determine outcomes.
For nearly two decades, Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa, SAN, has operated at that frontline, playing a central role in shaping how the Nigerian state prosecutes financial crimes and recovers illicit assets.
A career prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Oyedepo rose through the ranks to the position of Director, earning a reputation for handling complex, high-value, and politically sensitive cases. His prosecutorial work has spanned money laundering, abuse of office, and large-scale asset recovery, frequently involving intricate financial trails and multi-agency investigations.
His elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2022 marked a significant professional milestone. Conferred by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, the honour placed him among Nigeria’s elite advocates and reflected sustained courtroom performance and institutional impact—particularly in the evolving field of financial crimes litigation.
At the core of Oyedepo’s prosecutorial legacy is asset forfeiture, notably the use of Non-Conviction-Based Forfeiture (NCBF). He is widely recognised for advancing the legal framework that enables the state to recover proceeds of crime without waiting for criminal convictions. His role in securing a Supreme Court affirmation of the constitutionality of NCBF significantly strengthened asset recovery as a central pillar of Nigeria’s anti-corruption strategy.
Through these proceedings, courts have ordered the forfeiture of assets valued at billions of naira and millions of dollars. Notable cases include the forfeiture of exotic jewellery estimated at about $40 million linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, and funds traced to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan. Other high-profile matters include the forfeiture of $43.4 million and luxury properties in Ikoyi, as well as a 753-unit housing estate in Abuja linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Oyedepo has also been associated with forfeiture actions involving crude oil cargoes and illegally mined gold, secured through coordinated efforts among law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Beyond forfeiture, his prosecutorial record includes trials and convictions of senior public officials and professionals accused of corruption and financial crimes, underscoring his consistent presence in some of Nigeria’s most challenging enforcement cases.
His experience extends beyond domestic litigation. Oyedepo was part of the Federal Government’s legal team in the landmark P&ID arbitration case—a dispute that exposed systemic weaknesses in public contracting and posed enormous financial risk to the country. The case marked a turning point in Nigeria’s approach to international arbitration and sovereign dispute management.
In October 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Oyedepo as Special Assistant on Financial Crimes and Public Prosecution Compliance in the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The appointment signalled a transition from frontline prosecution to strategic coordination, with responsibilities that include aligning prosecutorial decisions, strengthening inter-agency compliance, and engaging domestic and international partners on enforcement policy.
The role reflects a broader recognition that effective anti-corruption enforcement requires institutional coherence. Operating at the intersection of investigation, prosecution, and policy, Oyedepo has emerged as a key figure in efforts to synchronise Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture.
Educated at the University of Ilorin, where he earned his LL.B (Hons) in 2007, Oyedepo proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, and was called to the Bar in 2008. His professional contributions have earned him several honours, including EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year (2014), Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor (2020), and the NYSC Merit Award (2009).
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, African Bar Association, and the International Association of Prosecutors, and is widely regarded within legal circles as an authority on asset forfeiture and financial crimes litigation.
Away from public prosecutions, Oyedepo maintains a strong commitment to family and faith. He is married to Dr. Victoria Oluwabunmi Rotimi-Oyedepo, and they are blessed with four children. He also serves as an Assistant Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, reflecting a personal life anchored in service beyond the courtroom.
As Nigeria continues to refine its anti-corruption framework, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, remains one of the legal professionals shaping how the state confronts financial crime—through law, strategy, and institutional reform.