![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")
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, has turned to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for help in securing presidential intervention over his lingering status on the Federal Government’s wanted list.
Igboho, who was declared wanted by the Department of State Services (DSS) in July 2021 over alleged stockpiling of arms, visited the monarch at the Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, on Saturday, accompanied by associates and supporters.
During the visit, the activist tendered an apology to the Ooni for his past criticisms. He pleaded with the monarch to intercede with President Bola Tinubu on his behalf.
“I want you to forgive and forget whatever wrong I have done to you. You are my father and you can’t do away with me. I know you have forgiven me going by this warm reception accorded us.
I am here to further seek your help as you have been doing before. I am still on the Federal Government wanted list, and I want you to help me clear my name from the wanted persons’ list.
Also, my account is frozen and I want you to assist me with that also. I want the embargo placed on my account to be lifted, and I know you are the one who can do it for me,” Igboho said in Yoruba.
He further explained that other monarchs had advised him to seek reconciliation with the Ooni. “When I visited the Olowo of Owo, the monarch asked if I had seen the Ooni, and I told him no. The monarch told me to come and see you as you are the overall authority,” he added.
On security in the South-West, Igboho renewed his vow to protect Yorubaland.
“I want you to send us into the forest. We will flush out all those kidnappers. We have the capacity to protect our people. Oodua’s descendants are not slaves to the Fulani. As I always tell people, Ooni is the head of all monarchs in Nigeria,” he declared.
He also recalled joining one of the monarch’s summits virtually from Germany, noting the Ooni’s honour overwhelmed him. “I told the person beside me that this was the same Ooni that I once abused. At that moment, I knew you are Oodua’s reincarnate,” he said.
In response, the Ooni of Ife assured Igboho of his forgiveness and pledged to help address his predicament.
“Some of you have abused me in the past, but whenever I saw your posts, I just laughed them off. I know you are concerned but you can see the reason why I was preaching patience then.
God has blessed Sunday Igboho a lot, and I thank God he didn’t die during his time of tribulation. I am not angry with you because I am the father of all. You are a brave man and our pride in Yorubaland and you will not die young,” the Ooni said.
He emphasized the need for peace in Yorubaland. “We are going to ensure that your name is removed from the wanted list. Ile-Ife is the source of the universe, and no one wants peace and the development of Yorubaland more than I do. However, when you associate with those who don’t like you, you must look for a solution. Let’s do away with fighting, it will not bring any good development to Yorubaland. That is why I keep calm most of the time,” the monarch added.
![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")
