![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
Over 707 ethnic nationalities youth leaders across Nigeria have thrown their support behind President Bola Tinubu for a second term, while calling for a constitutional amendment to introduce a single seven-year tenure for all elective offices.
The youth leaders made the demand at the 1st All Nigerian Ethnic Nationalities Youth Conference 2025 held in Abuja, themed “Emboldening a New Nigeria of Our Dream.”
Convened by Aare (Barr.) Oladotun Hassan, President of the Nigeria Youth Coalition (NYC), the event marked the 30th anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution, honouring his legacy as a defender of environmental justice.
In his keynote, Hassan described Nigeria’s current political structure as a “ritual of endless elections” that hinders governance and drains the economy.
“We are proposing a single, seven-year tenure for all elected officials beginning before the 2027 elections,” he said. “This will help leaders focus on governance and national development rather than endless campaigns.”
The youth coalition unanimously endorsed President Tinubu as a “symbol of democratic continuity,” praising his resilience in steering Nigeria through economic turbulence.
They also urged the Federal Government to support private investors, particularly the Dangote Refinery, by granting it direct crude supply access to reduce fuel prices to as low as ₦200 per litre.
The conference featured the 100 Heroes of Democracy Awards, honouring figures including President Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Ken Saro-Wiwa (posthumously).
Beyond politics, the youth coalition demanded the drafting of a New People’s Constitution, a 35% budget allocation to Education, 25% to Youth Development, and 15% to Traditional Institutions, alongside the creation of a Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
They further called for amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to increase host community benefits from 3% to 30%, and proposed the creation of National Agricultural Economic Development Zones to fight food insecurity.
Hassan also reaffirmed the youths’ rejection of any calls for military rule, stating: “It would be absurdly crude and undemocratic for anyone to advocate a return to military governance. Tinubu and others fought for this democracy, we must never betray that struggle.”
Concluding, he stressed that the proposed seven-year single term would “give leaders time and peace to deliver” and help build a Nigeria “where performance defines leadership.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
