![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 suit has been filed against Prince Olaide Adewale Akinremi, the candidate for Ibadan-North Federal constituency contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the grounds that he is an ex-convict who was imprisoned less than 10 years ago.
The suit was filed on November 27, 2018, at the Federal High Court Ibadan by Mr. Stephen Johnson, a member of the constiituency in which the APC candidate is vying for a political post, according to a report by SaharaReporters.
The suit with the number: FHC/IB/OS/138/18 has Mr Stephen Johnson as plaintiff/applicant and Prince Olaide Adewale Akinremi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants/respondents.
The suit claims that Prince Olaide Adewale Akinremi was convicted in 2013 at the criminal court of the Republic of Liberia for economic sabotage and theft of property.
The case involved former Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Beatrice Munah Sieh-Brown, Harris Manneh Dunn, Prince O.A. Akinremi, Kamah N. Zeon and Nebo Garlo, who were accused of committing fraud to the tune of about $200,000, meant for police uniforms and related items.
The case was prosecuted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the accused persons were indicted.
The suit became necessary, according to the applicant, “for the honourable court to make an order preserving the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from being breached by the Respondents”.
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, section 107(1d), states that “No person shall be qualified for the elections to a House Of Assembly if within a period of less than ten years before the date of an election to the House of Assembly, he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct.”
According to documents of the verdict obtained by the plaintiff from Liberia, the jury submitted that the APC chieftain and other accused persons were guilty of the offences.
According to the suit, Prince Olaide Adewale Akinremi was convicted in 2013, a period less than 10 years before his decision to run for office.
A court hearing was scheduled for January 29, 2019, but failed to hold as a result of the nationwide boycott ordered by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to protest the suspension of Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Hearing has been adjourned till February 27, 2019, as the judge said she will be on national assignment in Abuja till February 25, 2019.
Attempts to reach Akinremi, the APC candidate proved abortive, as after a few seconds of listening to our correspondent, the connection cut off. Further attempts to reach his line afterwards were unsuccessful.
![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?")
