![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")
Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPCHB) Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa has said that the LSPHCB will work closely with the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in ensuring the welfare and career progression of doctors in Lagos State Primary Health Care Centers across the State.
He stated this in this office at LSPHCB headquarters, Yaba when the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, and his team paid a courtesy visit.
Filade Olumide, Dep. Director Public Affairs, LSPHCB, in a statement said that the visit is to work out areas of collaboration between the agency and NMA Lagos in ensuring the success of the second pillar of the administration of the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES agenda for Lagos which is Health and Environment.
Dr. Mustafa further stated, “Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) are the bedrock of health of any society as their functions are primarily preventive. A healthy nation is a wealthy one in all ramifications”.
He also noted that “if the PHCs falters, then the secondary and tertiary health institutions would falter, as human and material resources would be inadequate to cater to an avalanche of the unhealthy citizenry”.
The Permanent Secretary said that plans are afoot to ensure clear-cut career part with the assistance of the Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions for Medical Officer Health (MOHs) at the various PHCs. While he also noted that there should be more MOHs residency in community and family health care to further enhance disease prevention, especially at the community level.
Dr. Mustafa went on to recognize the importance of the NMA in the Health Sector and referred to them as a formidable force to be reckoned with while advising that doctors should begin to carry other cadres of health workers along in all ramifications because of their importance in health care.
Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association Lagos, who led his team in his remarks said the association is mapping out a strategy for inclusive Lagos State engagement in making Mr. Governor’s THEMES agenda effective.
He emphasized that primary health centers are an important focus in health management and noted that to achieve universal coverage, adequate funding by the various arms of government must come into play. He also stated that he hopes to visit the PHCB headquarters to see a much-improved working environment for the staff.
Dr. Olowojebutu averred that there must be right coverage, improved communication, and adequate publicity for every landmark of LSPHCB in the media. This would improve information dissemination to the Lagos State public.
Present at the meeting were state executives of the Nigeria Medical Association and management staff of LSPHCB.
![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")
