![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 Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has nominated Mrs. Victoria Samson, popularly known as “BOVAS,” as the next Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo.
The announcement was made on May 10, 2026, following the completion of the mandate of the outgoing chancellor, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, who served from 2016 to 2026.
According to a statement signed and released on Osun State’s X handle on Sunday by the state government spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the appointment signals the beginning of a new leadership era for the university.
Mrs. Samson, founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas Company, is widely considered one of Nigeria’s most renowned female entrepreneurs in the downstream petroleum sector.
Adeleke praised the departed chancellor, stating that her decade-long tenure had a lasting impact on the institution.
“The tenure of the former chancellor ended on March 18, 2026, and the government of Osun State paid a celebratory visit to Apostle Folorunso Alakija on Friday, May 8, 2026, to express gratitude to the Alakija family for the excellent support given to the university and Osun State,” the statement said.
Adeleke highlighted one of the outgoing chancellor’s most significant contributions: the donation of a large medical facility to the university.
“Her impact remains a living legacy, especially the donation of the multi-billion naira Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to Osun State University,” he said.
Speaking on the appointment of Mrs. Samson, the governor praised her achievements in business and industry, describing her as a model of integrity and service.
Adeleke said, “We recognize with appreciation your distinct effort to make life easy for consumers of petroleum products.
“We celebrate you and present you as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity, and humanity in our society.”
Mrs. Samson, an Iree from Boripe Local Government Area in Osun State, was born on December 5, 1949. She has established a solid name in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry over the years.
Under her leadership, BOVAS Oil and Gas Company grew from a single filling station to a statewide network of over 200 service stations, employing more than 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025.
She also owns a Texaco Petroleum franchise and was the first Nigerian to receive the Texaco Latin America and West Africa (LAWA) Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990.
In her industry positions, she has been the matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in major depots, as well as a member of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association’s Board of Trustees.
Her academic and leadership credentials include a professional diploma in marketing, a leadership program at Harvard Business School in 2013, and executive education at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Congratulating her, Adeleke said, “We congratulate you on behalf of the government and people of Osun State on your appointment as Chancellor of Osun State University. Your record of integrity and service is a source of pride to our state.”
![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")
