![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")
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, denied an ex parte plea attempting to prevent Senator Ireti Kingibe from engaging in African Democratic Congress activities.
In a verdict, Justice Peter Lifu denied the appeal of several ward leaders of the party in Wuse, Federal Capital Territory, who claimed the senator had been suspended for anti-party activities.
Instead, the court ordered the plaintiffs to serve the lawmaker with notice so that she might reply to the charges and join the proceedings.
The ward leaders, who were reported to be loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, had petitioned the court to prevent Kingibe from representing herself as a member of the party and engaging in its activities.
Justice Lifu ruled on the case, stating that the court must utilize its discretion judicially and prudently, especially in political circumstances.
He maintained that justice could only be delivered if both sides were given an opportunity to submit their cases on merit.
As a result, the judge ordered that all court documents be served on the senator so that she could prepare her defense.
He adjourned the case to April 20, 2026, to hear all current applications.
The plaintiffs, Okezuo Anayo and Isaiah Samuel, filed the complaint under FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026 on behalf of themselves and other ward members, with Kingibe named as the sole defendant.
In their ex parte application, the plaintiffs stated that the senator, who represents the FCT in the Senate, was suspended by the Wuse Ward executives on March 10, 2026, for alleged anti-party conduct and disdain for the party constitution.
They asked the court to order an interim injunction prohibiting her from acting as a member of the party pending the outcome of a move on notice.
They specifically requested an order prohibiting her from attending meetings, performing functions reserved for party members, or representing the party in any fashion.
They also asked the court to prevent her from interfering with the administration of the ward, including the register and other official operations.
The plaintiffs based their lawsuit on five grounds, including allegations of severe wrongdoing and the confiscation of ward documents.
They claimed that her suspension followed legal process as outlined in the party’s constitution and was approved by a two-thirds vote of the ward executive committee.
According to them, despite being informed of the suspension, Kingibe continued to organize parallel meetings, issue press statements as a party member, and allegedly used security aides to intimidate ward officials.
“Her actions constitute flagrant disregard for the internal mechanism of the party,” the plaintiffs stated. “Her actions constitute flagrant disregard for the internal mechanism of the party,” the plaintiffs stated.
Meanwhile, a lawyer named Abubakar Marshall, who claimed to represent the senator, informed the court that he had submitted a preliminary objection to the complaint.
He noted that the objection had been served on M. S. Garba, who represented the plaintiffs in Thursday’s proceedings.
![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")
