![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 turned over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission a vessel carrying an unknown amount of diesel and five suspected Oil thieves.
On Tuesday, Mr. Inainfe Young-Inainfe, an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC from the Uyo zone, received the ship and the suspects from the Base Operation Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, Lt. Commander Clement Ayogu.
Four Nigerians and a Venezuelan national, according to the Navy, make up the suspects.
According to Ayogu, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, gave the order for the handover, which was carried out on behalf of the NNSV Commander, Commodore Ifeanyi Okpala.
The Navy launched “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo” to combat unlawful bunkering and crude oil theft, he said, and that is why the arrest was made.
Dewu claimed that on July 20, 2022, members from the NNSV who were on patrol in the Calabar waterway detained the accused and the boat called “Edidion AJ.”
He stated, “At the time of the arrest, the vessel carried a Venezuelan national and four crew members from Nigeria.
“The vessel was carrying an unspecified quantity of petroleum product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.
“We have established the fact that the vessel and her crew are complicit in the crime of economic sabotage.
“As a result of that, we are here to hand over the vessel and her crew to EFCC for onward investigation and prosecution.”
Dewu urged the general populace to refrain from all criminal activity.
He warned that the Navy and other security organisations will punish anyone involved in crimes.
Young-Inainfe responded after receiving the boat and the suspects and praised the navy for making the arrest.
He claimed that the collaboration between the commission and the Navy had produced significant successes in the battle against economic crime in the nation.
“We are taking over the vessel and the crew members; we can assure you that proper investigation would be carried out on the suspects, and justice would be done,” he said.
![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")
