US Congress wants Nigeria’s $480m loot used as aid for Boko Haram victims

As part of efforts to help the reintegration of Boko Haram’s victims in Nigeria’s north-east, US lawmakers are discussing a bill which will allow its government use recovered Nigerian funds illegally stashed in American accounts as aid.

Between 1993 and 1998, General Sani Abacha ruled as military dictator of Nigeria and during that time, is believed to have looted up to $5 billion and placed the money in foreign accounts. In 2014, the US Department of Justice forfeited $480 million in corruption proceeds kept in banks around the world by Abacha, allowing it to be “used for the benefit of the Nigerian people”. Recovered through the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, it remains the “largest kleptocracy forfeiture obtained through kleptocracy action.”

The bill, sponsored by Sheila Jackson Lee, a congresswoman from Texas, wants to use the money as a Victims of the Terror Protection Fund for families hurt by Boko Haram. Citing the power of the US Attorney General to dispose of recovered proceeds of corruption-related assets as she sees fit “where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies under new governments”, the bill resolves that “the victims of Boko Haram should be provided the dire humanitarian assistance.” It also calls for the provision of “military technical assistance be provided to Nigeria and its neighbours.”

While it might seem seen as controversial, the US Congress appears to be dictating how Nigeria’s stolen funds should be used rather than leave to the Nigerian government, it reflects the country’s general lack of credibility in handling recovered proceeds of corruption. There has been a lack of clarity over how parts of the Abacha loot recovered from other countries has been spent.

Similar issue led to David Cameron, Prime Minister of Britain to describe Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt’ last week. While agreeing that Cameron was right to tag the country corrupt, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president, also cast aspersions on Britain’s role in enabling corruption.

While still a way from being voted into law, sponsors of the bill say it can be modelled after the case of Equatorial Guinea “where prior kleptocracy initiatives have been created to benefit communities and victims in need of support.”

Louis van Gaal will be offered Manchester United director of football role to let Jose Mourinho take over as manager

LOUIS VAN GAAL is set to be offered a job upstairs at Manchester United opening the door for Jose Mourinho to be manager.

It is understood that the Dutchman will be given a director of football role at the club.

That will see Van Gaal complete his three-year contract at the club and leave next summer.

Van Gaal is aiming for FA Cup glory after failing in Champions League hunt            (c)  alex onyekwere

Van Gaal was met with boos during his speech to the Old Trafford crowd

Despite this seasons poor campaign Van Gaal remains popular with executive vice chairman Ed Woodward who still wants to use his vast footballing knowledge at the club.

But Woodward accepts there has to be change now in the managerial seat with Mourinho available.

The former Chelsea boss has rejected overtures from other clubs since being sacked by Chelsea in December as he wanted to wait for the Old Trafford hot seat to come free.

As first revealed by SunSport United were in touch with him almost immediately he left Stamford Bridge and those lines of communication have stayed open.

Ryan Giggs has been working as Dutchman's No2

Mourinho and Van Gaal are good friends and have worked together before at Barcelona.

Van Gaal was booed on Tuesday night when he was introduced to the crowd before making an address on the Old Trafford pitch.

Tomorrow he leads the team in what will now be his final game as manager of the club and he aims to go out on a high with victory in the FA Cup Final over Crystal Palace.

Marcus Rashford impressed as Manchester United clinched a Europa League group spot by beating Bournemouth in their rearranged Premier League match.

MANCHESTER UNITED  3 :: 1 AFC BOURNEMOUTH



Marcus Rashford has been involved in seven goals in 11 league appearances for Manchester United this season - five goals, two assists

The teams met at a sparsely populated Old Trafford after Sunday's game was called off following a bomb scare.

Wayne Rooney tucked the home side ahead after Rashford's dummy, then the young striker drilled in from 12 yards.

Ashley Young converted Rooney's pass, before Chris Smalling diverted in Max Gradel's shot as United finished fifth.

The final-game victory took the hosts above Southampton, who go into the Europa League qualifying stage next season.

Now the Red Devils turn their attentions to Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

Louis van Gaal, who still faces an uncertain future, is aiming to lead United to their first major trophy since the Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

Rashford catches the eye

Plenty of attention was focused on United striker Rashford after the 18-year-old was a shock inclusion in England's initial 26-man squad for Euro 2016.

The youngster was largely anonymous for the majority of the first half, managing just 12 touches as he was starved of service.

However, the game's first moment of quality came when Rashford again failed to touch the ball - a marvellous dummy for Rooney's opener, the 30-year-old's 100th goal at Old Trafford.

The teenager showed mature awareness to leave Anthony Martial's pass, following the France forward's neat one-two with Juan Mata, for his skipper to fire in from close range.

"The complete skill, awareness and vision of Rashford not to touch that ball is where the quality was," said BBC Radio 5 live summariser Pat Nevin.

Rashford looked lively when the teams returned after the break, his sharp movement and exuberant skill providing United's brightest moments.

Fittingly, he thumped in Antonio Valencia's cushioned header after another Rooney pass - before he was substituted to a standing ovation after 79 minutes.

United's Champions League hopes (officially) ended

United could have technically still qualified for the Champions League, although it would have required a record - and entirely improbable - 19-goal victory to overhaul neighbours Manchester City.

More realistically, Van Gaal's side needed a point to secure automatic qualification to the group stage of next season's Europa League.

And a fifth-place finish ahead of Southampton never looked in doubt against a Bournemouth side with nothing to play for.

Both clubs were allowed to name different teams for the rearranged game, with many expecting the Dutchman to make changes with Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in mind.

However, he surprisingly named the same starting line-up with Rooney again playing in a deeper midfield role.

The England captain was instrumental throughout, pulling the strings in a dominant United performance.

Bittersweet finish for Cherries

Bournemouth can look back at their debut season in the English top flight with plenty of satisfaction, despite signing off with a convincing defeat.

The Cherries were one of the favourites to be relegated before the campaign, but finished comfortably clear of the bottom three.

An encouraging period of just two defeats in 12 matches - including back-to-back wins against defending champions Chelsea and Manchester United - moved Eddie Howe's side away from the thick of a relegation battle.

However, the south coast club only managed to win one of their final eight games, leaving them 16th in the table.

Chances were rare in their first league visit to Old Trafford until substitute Gradel's wayward shot hit Smalling and flew past the stranded David de Gea.

"There was disappointment towards the end of the season, but overall the players have been outstanding and we have to look forward with real optimism," said Howe.

"We'll reflect on a memorable season - the best in the club's history."

But Howe may find himself fighting a battle to hang on to some of his players, revealing the club had rejected a combined £20m bid from West Ham for striker Callum Wilson and midfielder Matt Ritchie.

Post-match reaction

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal:

"I like the second half, it's only the last minute I don't like. We played a very good second half against a very defensive opponent.

"We didn't reach our aim. We have to qualify for the Champions League. We have still the FA Cup final to go. Everyone has to make up his mind at how we have done this season at that time.

"I can only say I have a contract of three years and I want to fulfil that. The transition period is not over yet. I am still the manager."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe:

"It's been a difficult couple of days. Not ideal for anyone. It was disappointing overall for us. They dominated possession, we struggled to get a stranglehold on the game.

"United were a level above us in most departments. We didn't make it as difficult for them as we could have done. There's lots for us to ponder over the summer."

Bournemouth reject £20m West Ham bid for Callum Wilson & Matt Ritchie

Callum Wilson joined Bournemouth from Coventry, while Matt Ritchie arrived from Swindon

Bournemouth have rejected West Ham's combined bid of £20m for striker Callum Wilson and midfielder Matt Ritchie.

Reports on Monday had claimed the London club offered £25m for the pair.

"We had a bid yesterday evening," Cherries manager Eddie Howe said after his side's 3-1 defeat at Manchester United. "It was from West Ham but the bid was rejected and we have no intention to sell.

"We want to try to improve our squad, not weaken it."

Wilson, 24, only returned to first-team action in April after missing more than six months of the club's first Premier League campaign with cruciate knee ligament damage.

The former Coventry City man had scored five goals in seven games before suffering the injury against Stoke City in late September.

Ritchie, 26, has become a full Scotland international since joining the Cherries from Swindon in 2013.

Fifa appoints first female secretary general to succeed Jerome Valcke

Senegal's Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura has been appointed as Fifa's first female secretary general.

She succeeds former secretary general Jerome Valcke, who was banned from football-related activity for 12 years.

Samoura, 54, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will start at football's governing body in June.

"It is essential Fifa incorporates fresh perspectives as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

"She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for Fifa, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation."

Samoura's appointment, announced at Fifa's congress in Mexico City, completes a new-look to an organisation which has been dogged by corruption allegations under Valcke and previous president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter, who had led Fifa since 1998, stood down last year and was later suspended from football for six years for breaching ethics guidelines.

On his appointment in February, Infantino said he would "work tirelessly to bring football back to Fifa and Fifa back to football".

Samoura, who will undergo an eligibility check before her role is ratified, currently works for the UN in Nigeria, and speaks four languages.

Samoura 'honoured' to take up new role

She started her UN career as a senior logistics officer with the World Food Programme in Rome in 1995 and has since served as country representative or director in six African countries, including Nigeria.

"Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on this role," she said.

"This role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience - strategic, high-impact team building in international settings - which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.

"I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at Fifa.

"Fifa is taking a fresh approach to its work - and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible."

John Terry: Chelsea captain offered new one-year contract

John Terry has won the Premier League four times

Chelsea captain John Terry has been offered a new one-year contract by the Blues and is considering whether to accept it.

Terry, 35, is out of contract at the end of this season and in January said he would not be extending his stay.

"With it coming so late in the season, this is a big decision for John and his family and it is something that they are now considering," a spokesman said.

Chelsea will be managed next season by Italy boss Antonio Conte.

He takes over from Guus Hiddink, who replaced Jose Mourinho following the Portuguese's sacking in December.

"It's good to have big players in a club who are big personalities," said Hiddink, when asked about Terry at a news conference on Friday.

Chelsea play champions Leicester on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, but Terry is suspended after being sent off at Sunderland.

The defender has made 703 appearances since his debut in October 1998.

Fraser Forster & James Ward-Prowse: Southampton pair sign new deals

Forster and Ward-Prowse

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster and midfielder James Ward-Prowse have signed new contracts with Southampton.

"There's real ambition around the place and it's good to be a part of it," said 28-year-old England player Forster, who has signed a five-year deal.

Ward-Prowse, 21, has agreed a six-year contract and has been with the club since he was eight years old.

"When I knew I had the chance to extend my stay here, it was a no-brainer for me," said the England Under-21 captain.

Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk agreed a new deal last week.