![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")
Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has been declared the winner of the Saturday, February 25th election in Anambra, Imo, and Delta States.
Obi received 584,621 votes in Anambra, his home state, compared to 9,036 votes for People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Prof Nnenna Oti, the state’s returning officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), declared the results at the INEC collation center in Awka.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, received 5,111 votes, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, received 1,967 votes.
Imo
In Imo, the LP presidential candidate also emerged as the winner of the presidential election.
According to the returning officer, Charles Esimone, Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Akwa, Obi polled 352,904, while Tinubu polled 66, 171 votes taking the second position. Atiku Abubakar scored 30,044, while Kwankwaso of the NNPP garnered 1,536 votes.
Results declared in the state were collated in 26 out of the 27 local government areas. The returning officer said that the results of the Njaba LGA were not collated because of violence.
Delta
Obi won the presidential election in Delta by a wide margin. The Collation Officer, Professor Owunari Georgewill, said Obi polled 341,866 while his PDP’s Atiku polled 161,600. The APC took third position having scored 90,183 votes.
LP won in 18 local government areas including Isoko North, Isoko South, Warri South, Udu, Ughelli North, Uvwie, Okpe, Ndokwa West, Oshimili South, Sapele and Ndokwa East LGA’s.
Others are Ukwuani, Aniocha South, Ethiope East, Oshimili North, Ethiope West, Aniocha North, and Ika South LGA.
![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")
