![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")
Cable Network News (CNN) Wonder Goal of the Month of February 2017, Sikiru Olatunbosun leads the three man cast of Ifeanyi Ifeanyi of Akwa United and Chidi Nwachukwu of Go Round FC for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 18 VAT Wonder Goal Awards shortlists.
For Nwachukwu’s goal, spirited repel of his side’s effort at goal saw the ball bumbling around the defensive box until a measured pull out from the right side of Kwara United defense fell kindly to Nwachukwu who hit a low volley to the far end of the post.
Ifeanyi ifeanyi has since established a reputation for scoring from free kicks dating back to his seasons at Lagos side, MFM FC and on Sunday, April 22, he saw another opportunity to make hay.
Taking short steps back from the ball, some 25 yards from the goal post, Ifeanyi curled the ball expertly beyond the Sunshine Stars defensive wall. It rested softly at the high end of the left corner, gently pushing the net up and falling.
The third goal on the shortlist came off a counter offensive at the Agege Stadium. Monsuru Olawale Bashiru had pried the ball off a Rivers United player, pushed it to diminutive Chukwuka Onuwa who side-stepped his marker and deftly toed the ball towards Olatunbosun.
READ: Two cup finals with Liverpool and no show, will Klopp be third time lucky?
He paced forward to near the 18 yard box before unleashing a grounder that beat veteran goalkeeper, Rotimi Sunday to arouse cheers from appreciative fans.
Video clips of the three goals have been uploaded on the NPFL website, www.npfl.ng and Twitter handle, @lmcnpfl for voting which opens on Tuesday, May 1 and ends at midnight of Thursday, May 3.
Emeka Ogbugh of Rivers United, Sikiru Alimi of Sunshine Stars and Sochima Elum are the three previous winners of the N150,000 prize money this season.
The VAT Wonder Goal Award is an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to deepen club and community engagement through charity support and also promote the benefits of tax payment through the FIRS tax education campaign.
![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")
