![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 trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, took a new turn on Wednesday as a prosecution witness told the court that the 2022 naira redesign exercise breached provisions of the law.
Testifying before Justice Maryanne Anineh at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, the seventh prosecution witness, Chinedu Eneanya, said the process failed to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a four-count charge linked to the alleged unlawful printing of redesigned naira notes.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Eneanya told the court that investigations revealed the absence of mandatory board recommendations before the redesign was carried out.
“The Central Bank must have board recommendations before the currency is redesigned,” he said.
The witness further disclosed that Emefiele presented three sample designs for the N1000, N500 and N200 notes, which received presidential approval. However, he claimed the final output differed from what was initially approved.
“The president approved the design and directed local production, but what was eventually produced was not what was presented,” Eneanya added.
According to the witness, the original naira design had been handled by UK-based firm De La Rue.
He also confirmed that the Central Bank paid the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company Limited for printing the redesigned currency, which was carried out locally before the investigation began.
When asked whether members of the CBN Board or Committee of Governors were invited during the probe, Eneanya said the commission relied on statements from officials within the bank’s corporate secretariat.
During re-examination, prosecution counsel Abbas Mohammed sought to clarify whether the president’s directive covered design or production.
Eneanya explained that the redesigned currency was presented to former President Muhammadu Buhari for approval, which was granted.
“Investigation shows that the design of the currency was already shown to the president and it was approved,” he said.
Justice Anineh adjourned the case to May 11, 2026, for continuation of trial.
![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?")
