‘VIP pardons’ while 53,225 pretrial detainees languish in jail, is not the kind of story Nigerians want to wake up to. Amid the pressure on the federal government to grant pardons to politically exposed persons (PEPs) and the attendant review of such requests, a larger population of detainees that need clemency the most are getting ignored. Honourable Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while the political elite push for VIP pardons, over 53,000 pretrial detainees continue to waste away behind bars. If prison decongestion is truly the goal, perhaps the focus should shift from liberating well-connected ‘victims of circumstance’ to ensuring justice for those who can’t afford a team of senior advocates. Read more headlining stories here; https://developmentdiaries.com/nigerian-newspapers-key-advocacy-calls-tuesday-25th-february-2025/