A look at the major national stories reported by P.M. News on 24 November 2004.
The front page of P.M. News dated November 24, 2004 reported political controversy involving Nasir El-Rufai, leadership changes in the ANPP Senate caucus, and an international currency smuggling arrest.
This image shows the front page of P.M. News dated Wednesday, November 24, 2004, highlighting several major political and crime stories that were making headlines in Nigeria at the time.
The newspaper captured the atmosphere of Nigeria’s political landscape during the early years of the Fourth Republic, when political disputes, corruption allegations, and high-profile investigations frequently dominated public discourse.
Senate Orders El-Rufai to Refund ₦10 Million
One of the lead stories on the front page involved Nasir El‑Rufai, who was serving at the time as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the report, the Nigerian Senate directed him to refund ₦10 million that had allegedly been paid illegally as salary to a youth corps member serving in his office.
The controversy raised questions about the management of public funds and the proper treatment of members of the National Youth Service Corps, who are normally paid standardized allowances rather than ministerial-level salaries.
The issue attracted national attention because El-Rufai was already a prominent and sometimes controversial political figure within the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
ANPP Senate Leaders Resign
Another major story reported the resignation of two top Senate leaders from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
The officials involved were:
Usman Al-Bishir, the Senate Minority Leader
Yushau Anka, the Senate Minority Whip
Both men stepped down after members of their party caucus reportedly initiated moves to impeach them over allegations of gross incompetence.
Such internal party conflicts were common during this period as opposition parties struggled to organize themselves effectively within Nigeria’s parliamentary system.
Currency Smuggling Arrest in South Africa
The newspaper also reported a crime story involving a Nigerian national identified as Samuel Igwendo, who was arrested at an airport in East London, located in South Africa.
Authorities reportedly discovered that the 37-year-old man was attempting to smuggle about ₦6 million worth of currency hidden in his underpants.
Cases like this often attracted media attention because they were linked to international financial crime concerns and frequently involved airport security operations.
The Role of P.M. News in Nigerian Media
P.M. News became popular for its fast-paced reporting style and attention-grabbing headlines.
Founded by veteran journalist Bayo Onanuga, the publication focused heavily on:
Breaking political developments
Investigative reporting
Crime stories
Government accountability
Its bold headlines and rapid reporting style made it one of the widely read newspapers in Nigeria during the early 2000s.
Historical Snapshot of Nigeria in the Early 2000s
This single newspaper front page provides a glimpse into the key issues shaping Nigeria’s public conversation in 2004:
Political accountability and public fund management
Internal power struggles within opposition parties
Crime and international law enforcement involving Nigerian citizens
Together, these stories reflect the complex political and social climate of Nigeria during the early years of democratic governance after decades of military rule.
Sources
Archives of P.M. News (November 2004 edition)
Records of the Nigerian Senate
Historical reports on Nasir El‑Rufai and Nigerian Fourth Republic politics.
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