![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 Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has announced the disbandment of the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association, DTCDA, which was founded by Dangote refinery management.
This is part of the agreement signed between NUPENG leadership and a representative from the Dangote Petrochemical refinery prior to the suspension of the former’s strike.
The deal was struck on Tuesday at the Department of State Services’ (DSS) headquarters in Abuja.
The DTCDA is a new union founded by Dangote refinery management for its employees, but the NUPENG boss stated that it has been decided that it should be liquidated, noting that the Ministry of Labour has already deemed it an illegal organization.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, stated that the DSS office was chosen because it provided a distinct setting and allowed the Minister of Finance to attend.
The President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha, stated that all controversial matters have been settled.
He said, “We signed an agreement, and members have agreed to the unionization of workers in the Dangote Petrochemical refinery.”
He stated that the strike will be called off immediately and that vessels had begun carrying petroleum products.
Concerning the claimed uncompromising conduct of the Dangote refinery representative, the NUPENG president stated that the Dangote team denied any such behavior.
He said, “They said they didn’t walk out. The man (Dangote refinery representative) said he was hungry and had an ulcer, so he had to go and eat, and that there was nothing like him walking out.”
Speaking on why the contentious issues were not resolved at the Monday night meeting, Akporeha said, “They tried to bring in some clauses. They didn’t agree on our own input, while we also did not agree on their input, but today we have been able to harmonize that, and we have signed.”
Highlighting some of the clauses in contention, he said, “They brought in this DTCDA (Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association), which they don’t have the right to do, and we have also said that going forward, they shouldn’t force any union on the workers; the management should not create any union for the workers.”
![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")
