![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?")
Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and her co-defendants are awaiting a jury verdict after both the prosecution and defence closed their cases at the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom.
Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, over a five-count charge relating to alleged bribery. The three defendants have all pleaded not guilty.
British prosecutors allege that Alison-Madueke accepted luxury items and high-value properties from oil industry figures seeking favourable treatment in the award of oil contracts during her tenure as petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015.
According to the prosecution, there is no documentary evidence showing that the benefits were reimbursed or linked to legitimate financial arrangements.
In his closing address, defence counsel, Jonathan Laidlaw, argued that prosecutors failed to charge the alleged bribe givers and relied on what he described as incomplete and unreliable evidence.
He questioned the handling of evidence recovered during a 2015 raid on Alison-Madueke’s Abuja residence, alleging procedural irregularities, including the absence of key officials and a lack of photographic documentation showing where items were originally found.
Laidlaw also maintained that documents which could support the defence including records of reimbursements and official ministerial activities were missing. He criticised the prosecution’s reliance on materials linked to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while rejecting parts of the same evidence relating to Ayinde.
The defence further disputed claims that official travel and financial records connected to the former minister were unavailable, describing the prosecution’s position as contradictory.
Responding for the prosecution, lead counsel Alexandra Healy argued that oil executives provided improper benefits to Alison-Madueke while their companies secured lucrative government contracts.
Healy told the court that the alleged arrangements were incompatible with public office and unsupported by any evidence of reimbursement.
She also referenced a £1 million payment linked to businessman Benedict Peters, alleging that intermediary structures were used to conceal the nature of the transaction.
The prosecution further noted that Alison-Madueke had been aware of the investigation for nearly 10 years.
With both sides having concluded their submissions, the jury is expected to deliver its verdict later this week.
![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?")
