![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
Copies of an unsigned document alleged to be the judgement of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal have appeared online, sparking debate and discussion.
The document, which bears the petition number of the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Asuerime Ighodalo, against Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, was released less than 24 hours before the tribunal is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
The disclosure has prompted concerns about the document’s legitimacy, with many asking if it represents the tribunal’s final verdict.
A copy of the document obtained by The PUNCH suggests a split decision, with two of the three tribunal justices siding with Okpebholo and the third dissenting.
The tribunal panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, reportedly saw Justice A. B. Yusuf siding with the chairman to affirm Okpebholo’s election, while Justice A. A. Adewole ruled in support of Ighodalo.
According to the document, Justices Kpochi and Yusuf dismissed the petitioners’ arguments, claiming that while there were some irregularities in the election, they were not significant enough to change the outcome.
Citing Supreme Court precedents, they determined that the margin of victory remained unchanged notwithstanding the discovered anomalies.
However, Justice Adewole dissented, claiming that the total valid votes showed Ighodalo receiving 243,113 votes to Okpebholo’s 210,326.
He deemed the election unlawful due to noncompliance with the Electoral Act and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide a new Certificate of Return to Ighodalo.
He also determined that the PDP’s assertions were not effectively refuted and that evidence pointed to an inaccurate statement of results.
With the formal judgement still to be issued, the leaked paper has caused significant debate, leaving observers wondering whether it genuinely reflects the tribunal’s final conclusion or is simply a product of speculation.
![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
