![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?")
The South-West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged intimidation and irregularities during the recent local government elections in Ogun State, describing the conduct of the exercise as a sham and a breach of democratic values.
The PDP expressed its position in a statement issued by its Southwest Publicity Secretary, Sanya Atofarati, and made available in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Sunday.
Atofarati stated, “Instances of intimidation against our party members were widespread across polling units in all 20 local government areas, culminating in the unjust arrest and detention of the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
“Intimidation, oppression, undue arrests, and detentions are breaches of democratic values. They are unacceptable and condemnable.
“The Babatunde Osibodu-led Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission was compromised from the outset, with a clear intention to perpetrate electoral fraud.
“Reported irregularities in the election included the premature declaration of results in areas where no elections were held.”
The PDP accused the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, of being complicit in the irregularities and intimidation, stating, “Governor Abiodun must acknowledge the impending downfall of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
“His persistent harassment of PDP leaders and oppressive tactics will only fuel a revolution among the marginalised masses. Ogun State currently faces significant debt and a lack of development under the APC’s governance.”
“The party’s South-West chapter, however, urged its members “to uphold the law and remain peaceful in the face of these challenges.”
However, the All Progressive Congress, APC Publicity Secretary in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye, insisted that the council elections followed due process and accused the PDP of perpetrating violence during the election.
Oladunjoye said, “They (PDP) are not popular, but they are making a lot of noise. What was shocking in the local government elections was the kind of violence perpetrated by the PDP.
“Nobody is silencing the opposition. In fact, they are the ones who should behave according to the law and not act as if they are above it. Ogun State was peaceful before this election.”
![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?")
