![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?")
Nigerians have criticized Aisha Yesufu for celebrating the decline of the value of the naira against the dollar.
Yesufu, in a statement on Saturday, berated President Bola Tinubu over the astronomical decline in the naira.
Yesufu, in her statement, said, “Aisha Yesufu, who said you should keep your dollar closer, is the problem, not the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who rigged the election only to be worse than Buhari.
“You people should keep living in Lala Land. My pinned post still tells you to keep your dollars close.
Governance cannot be run on propaganda.”
Yesufu made the statement while reacting to a report by Bloomberg Africa which stated that “Nigeria’s naira has reversed recent gains and is now the world’s worst performing currency in the last month, increasing pressure on the central bank to keep raising interest rates.”
Bloomberg Africa further noted that “the naira has slipped to 1,466.31 to the dollar, its weakest level since March 20, hurt by the local scarcity of the US currency, which on Thursday halved from the day before to just $84 million.”
Berating the activist over her statement, Umar Muhammed, in a statement on X, mentioned that “it’s surprising how unpatriotic you can be; you leverage that Nigeria should fail, but you’ll be disgraced at last.
He added that “nothing lasts forever; you’re even worse than any corrupt politician ever; you’ve refused to comment on the fraudulent charges against your husband, no matter how bad Nigeria gets. Nothing good comes easy. Nigeria would be great again, and you’ll be sad forever.”
In his reaction, Imo Enobong Ebong states, “You’re encouraging people to sabotage the economy because Tinubu is Nigeria’s president. But you wouldn’t encourage Nigerians to keep hold of their dollars if Obi were the president. Same mindset as those who blew up oil pipelines because Buhari replaced GEJ.”
An X user simply identified as Richard, described the #BringBackOurGirls activist as a “bitter” person when he said she’s “always and ever bitter!
He adds, “If you accuse Tinubu of rigging, what are you going to accuse your husband of doing? The ills and evils you wish Nigeria would experience will befall you and your family.
“Till now, you can’t even produce a clean slate for your stewardship as the keeper of LP campaign funds! Gbajue woman!”
Suleman Idemudia urged Nigerians to support the development strides of the present administration rather than celebrate when the economy suffers setbacks.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approach to economic development and commitment to sustainability are setting a positive example for other leaders.
“Let’s engage in respectful dialogue and focus on moving our nation forward together.”
![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?")
