![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?")
The North Central Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday warned disgruntled members and groups to stop criticising President Bola Tinubu, APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, and other party leaders.
The warning was given in a joint statement by Mu’azu Bawa Rijau, National Vice Chairman of APC North Central, and Yakubu Adamu, Zonal Secretary of the zone.
Tinubu and other high-profile APC officials have recently been targeted in a campaign led by many political parties and party leaders, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi had charged Nigerians to be prepared to defend their mandate in the approaching 2027 election, warning that politicians, including the current president, will not cede power easily and will do whatever it takes—including robbing, maiming, and killing—to remain in power.
El-Rufai, on the other side, declared that he no longer trusted his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, calling it a “zero-man show.”
The former governor also asked opposition parties to band together and build a broad alliance to oppose the ruling party and preserve democracy.
Akume has also been dragged multiple times on social media by disgruntled party members in the North Central over his ongoing fight with Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.
While emphasising that the leadership would not hesitate to impose penalties, Rijau emphasised that the decision to take decisive action was made during a critical meeting of APC zonal leaders and state chairmen in Abuja on Friday.
The statement said, “The attention of the leadership of the APC North Central has been drawn to the activities of some personalities and support groups who are using the name of the party to attack, insult, and disparage the persons, characters, and reputations of some eminent leaders of the party in the media.
“The zonal party leadership wishes to condemn and unequivocally reject this development. We make bold to say that these groups are not only unrecognised; they are nothing but usurpers and interlopers. Of particular attention was the recent unwarranted attacks on the person and office of the former Governor of Benue State and current SGF, Senator George Akume, by some sponsored groups.
“The leadership of the party in the zone wishes to pass a vote of confidence on our leaders, particularly Akume and all our five elected governors in the zone, whose contributions to the growth of the party in the zone and indeed the country have been acknowledged by all and sundry.
“We are, by this statement, warning these persons to desist forthwith from any guise to disparage, attack, and insult our leaders. Failure to do so will attract the full weight of the law.
“We also applauded the Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee for providing direction for the party.
“We reaffirmed our unalloyed loyalty to the ideals, vision, and mission of the founding fathers and pray for the continued success of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
![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?")
