![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 award-winning inq. Digital is a leading-edge ICT solutions provider that delivers cutting-edge solutions across five major service categories: edge AI solutions, SDN/NFV solutions, cloud-based solutions, digital solutions, and intelligent connectivity.
Under the management of ICT personality of the year, Mr. Valentine Chime, the company has established a strong presence in over six African countries, including Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Malawi.
In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the development of the ICT sector in Nigeria, inq. Digital Nigeria Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Valentine Chime, was named the ICT Personality of the Year, 2023, at the 14th edition of the prestigious Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Award ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 27, 2023.
Established in 2009, Africa’s BoICT Merit and Leadership Awards is an annual event that honours individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian ICT sector.
The coveted ICT personality of the year category, which is decided by the votes of ICT industry experts and media, recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and excellence in the field of ICT. In its fourteenth year, the awards have metamorphosed from the BoIC Awards to the Africa BoICT Merit and Leadership Awards.
According to the citation read at the event, Valentine Chime was chosen as the ICT Personality of the Year in recognition of his exceptional leadership in driving the growth and expansion of inq.Digital Nigeria since he assumed leadership of the company in 2019.
inq. Digital Nigeria is a global leader in edge solutions, offering an extensive array of solutions including edge AI, IoT, SDN/NFV for edge cloud, Secure Access Services Edge, Elastic Edge, and its widely acclaimed Edge Fabric service.
Under his expert guidance, the company has launched several innovative products and services that have helped businesses across different industries harness the power of digital technology. Furthermore, Valentine is a well-respected ICT thought leader whose engaging and insightful articles, speeches, and contributions have helped shape the business and policy environment of Nigeria’s ICT sector.
This year’s event was doubly special for inq.Digital Nigeria, as the company was also awarded Enterprise Broadband Service Provider of the Year and Emerging Technology Company of the Year, in recognition of the company’s role in driving innovation and exceptional services that are powering Nigeria’s digital revolution.
Commenting on the awards, Valentine said, “It is an honour to receive this recognition from the BoICT. I am even more elated by the awards received by inq. Digital Nigeria, as they are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the entire team at inq. Digital Nigeria. We remain committed to using technology to drive innovation and growth in Nigeria and across Africa.
![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")
