![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")
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining democratic institutions and attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku made the claim on Saturday in response to the decision of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to deny the Peoples Democratic Party access to a public event facility in Abuja for the confirmation of its presidential candidate.
In a statement released by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president denounced the action as an abuse of power and part of the federal government’s larger campaign to stifle political dissent.
According to him, the episode exemplifies a growing pattern of intolerance against opposition parties under the Tinubu administration.
Atiku made the claim on Saturday in response to the decision of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to deny the Peoples Democratic Party access to a public event facility in Abuja for the confirmation of its presidential candidate.
In a statement released by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president denounced the action as an abuse of power and part of the federal government’s larger campaign to stifle political dissent.
According to him, the episode exemplifies a growing pattern of intolerance against opposition parties under the Tinubu administration.
The debate comes as political activity ramps up ahead of the 2027 polls, with opposition parties growing concerned about what they see as measures to limit political space and slant the electoral landscape in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Atiku stated that public amenities should be available to all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, and accused the FCT Administration of partisan manner.
“Private and public facilities in the Federal Capital Territory, or indeed anywhere in the country, exist to serve all Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliation. The minister’s refusal to allow a legitimate political activity to be held in such a venue is not only discriminatory but also a clear demonstration of partisan interference by the Tinubu administration.
“We have seen a pattern of political interference through public institutions aimed at weakening opposition parties under the current administration. We have also seen, by the case under reference with the PDP, and ditto the ADC during its national convention held in April, that the Tinubu government is literally pushing political opposition out of space,” he said.
The former presidential candidate also claimed that there was a double standard in the exercise of government authority, stating that another group of the ADC had staged a public event in Abuja without encountering similar constraints.
“It was under the same leadership of Wike in the FCT that a sponsored faction of the ADC had a public event a few days ago with no one threatening them.
“This sets a dangerous precedent that undermines Nigeria’s democracy, the rule of law, and the integrity of our elections,” the statement added.
Atiku accused Tinubu of using state institutions to create what he described as an uneven political playing field ahead of the next presidential election.
“This high-handed action is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s emerging pattern of deploying state institutions and resources to frustrate political opposition and weaken the democratic process in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election.
“By weaponizing the FCT administration against opposition parties, the Tinubu administration is revealing its intolerance for political pluralism and its determination to create an uneven playing field that favors only the ruling party and its cohorts,” he said.
Atiku, a self-acclaimed defender of democratic governance, said the development was part of a wider effort to suppress dissent and undermine competitive politics.
According to the statement, the ADC chieftain believes that the administration’s actions threaten the foundations of democratic rule.
“The Tinubu government is afraid of free and fair elections, and their tactics to suppress the opposition will not succeed.
“Nigerians are resolute in their demand for genuine democracy, accountability, and leadership that respects the constitution rather than subverting it.”
He also accused the president of seeking either total political dominance or the erosion of democratic norms.
“Tinubu is focused on either having his way in the 2027 election or destroying Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement asserted.
The former PDP chieftain called on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory to reverse the decision and ensure equal access to facilities for all political parties.
“We call on the Minister of the FCT to immediately stop this unconstitutional action and grant all opposition parties unfettered access to public and private facilities for their legitimate political activities.
“We equally urge all democratic stakeholders, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to rise against this creeping authoritarianism before it further erodes the foundations of our republic,” the statement said.
At the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the FCT Administration had officially responded to the allegations.
![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")
