![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 Nigerian Navy has handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, 12 suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an un-named barge and two wooden boats.
The suspects and the vessels were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER.
The handing over ceremony was held at Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
EFCC said the suspects would undergo further investigation before being prosecution.
While handing over the suspects to the EFCC, Commodore W. O Kayoda, Commander of NHS PATHFINDER said that, the suspected oil thieves were arrested on 6 February, 2017 by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team deployed for Anti-Crude Oil Theft/ Illegal Oil Bunkering operations around Taraba Jetty, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They were arrested with one vessel: MV OMISAN 1 and one wooden boat. The suspects, who were crew members of MV OMISAN 1 and the wooden boat were arrested in the process of trans-shipping an estimated 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil, AGO, from the wooden boat to MV OMISAN 1.
Similarly, on 7 February 2017, the patrol team intercepted a barge laden with an estimated 100,000 litres of products suspected to be AGO, and another wooden boat laden with an estimated 60,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO around Isaka axis.
However, no suspect was arrested with the seizures made on 7 February, 2017.
The suspects aboard MV OMISAN 1 are: Captain Benjamio Igiogio; Engineer Samuel Ogunfemi; Jakpa Eyituoyo; Johnson Dudu; Ogunkalu Taiwo; Toju Oko-Otiuroh; Desmond Edafe Unuarhe; Ibiye Ngiania; Sylvanus Ikorawi J; Ayadi Abiola, Chibueze Nwali and Imeh Brown.
The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.
![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")
