![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
A 20-year-old student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday narrated to a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja how a 53-year-old lecturer of the school, Samuel Obinna Ojogbo, allegedly assaulted her in his office.
The pupil delivered the story to Justice Oyindamola Ogala while testifying as the first prosecution witness in Ojogbo’s ongoing trial.
The Lagos State Government is prosecuting Ojogbo on two counts of rape and sexual assault.
The witness, led in evidence-in-chief by prosecution lawyer A.O. Azeez, stated that the event occurred on August 22, 2025, at approximately 1200 hours, on the university’s Akoka campus.
When the rape victim entered the witness box, she began by introducing herself: “I am a student of the University of Lagos.”
She narrated that a day before the incident, while writing an examination, the defendant approached her.
The victim stated, “Prior to the 22nd of August, 2025, on the 21st of August, I was writing an exam not related to banking.
“I was seated in the first row, the first seat. The defendant came inside at the first row while I was writing my exam and asked, ‘Hope it is what I read that came out?’ I said yes, that I knew a particular section better than the other section.”
“He then told me not to worry and that I should come and see him in his office after my exam,” she said.
The witness informed the court that she attempted to meet him twice after the exam but did not find him in his office.
According to her, “The second time I went with my friend, he wasn’t around either, so I left.
“The second day, being 22nd August, I had another exam slated from 9:00am to 12:00pm, but the defendant was the one taking us.
However, on August 22, after completing another exam, she reported meeting the instructor near her faculty.
“I was going to my hostel when I saw him. He signaled to me to wait. He signaled to me that I should wait, and I waited because he was talking to somebody.
“We then went to his office together,” she said.
She told the court, “His office is underground. There is no window, no secretary.”
She stated that while they were chatting, two female students briefly entered the office to speak with him about the tests they missed but were turned away by the defendant.
“He told them to leave, that they were disturbing him,” she said.
She also informed the court that after the incident, the defendant allegedly made promises regarding her academic progress.
“He said he would make sure he supervises my project in Year Four. He collected my exam docket, made a copy, gave me one, and collected my phone number,” she said.
The witness stated that she left the office in tears and immediately reported the rape incident.
“I went to my friend crying, and we agreed to report,” she said.
She told the court that she initially reported to a lecturer in her department, who then contacted her uncle, who is also a lecturer, before approaching the department director.
“We then went to a lecturer in my department, Dr. Abu; he called my uncle, who is also a lecturer in the department. Then we went to the HOD office. When we got to the HOD office, he asked if what I was saying was true; he said, ‘Where is the evidence, and why don’t I record with my phone?’
“Then he called the defendant to his office. When the defendant came, he said nothing of such a thing having happened and that I was just lying against him.
“The HOD said that my uncle and I should just let it go and said next time I should be more careful with lecturers alone. Then we left his office.
“My uncle said we can’t just let it go like that. We went to Servicom at school. When I got to Servicom, a woman and I went to the medical center for tests. Then, after that, they prescribed drugs.
She also testified that she reported the case to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, after which she was referred to the police.
“I was referred to Bariga Police Station and later to WARIF for another test,” she said.
Furthermore, she noted that the case was subsequently transferred to the Gender Unit of the police command for investigation.
The witness also informed the court that following the report, there were attempts at settlement, which included discussions between the parties involved to resolve the matter amicably before proceeding with the trial.
“After all these, the defendant’s family and friends started calling for a meeting,” she said.
Justice Ogala adjourned the case until April 27, 2026, for cross-examination of the witness.
![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
