![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")
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola apologised for his team’s part in the mass brawl that resulted in Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho being sent off at the end of their 3-1 defeat by Chelsea – but defended both players.
Chelsea had fought back from 1-0 down to secure an eighth straight win that moved them four points clear at the top of the Premier League, and City’s frustrations boiled over in injury time.
Aguero was dismissed for his wild lunge on Chelsea defender David Luiz, with team-mate Fernandinho also shown a red card for clashing with Cesc Fabregas in the melee that followed.
“It is a pity the game finished like this,” Guardiola said afterwards. “I don’t like that and I apologise for what happened.
“I don’t think Aguero’s challenge is intentional. Both players were strong, that is all.
“Then Fernandinho went over to defend his team-mate because of what the opponent did to Aguero.
“When (City winger) Nolito did that against Bournemouth, it was a red card for him and a three-game ban. That is why Fernandinho went to defend his team-mate, that is all.
“I have not spoken to him about it – if it is on TV, we will see about it.”
Fernandinho will be suspended for three matches and Aguero will face a four-game ban because he has already been sent off once for violent conduct this season – the retrospective red card he received for a challenge on West Ham defender Winston Reid in August.
The pair will miss City’s games against Leicester, Watford and Arsenal and, while Fernandinho can return at Hull on 26 December, Aguero will have to wait until City’s trip to Anfield to play Liverpool on New Year’s Eve.
Referee Anthony Taylor had angered City’s players and their fans with some of his earlier decisions, including a first-half challenge by Luiz on Aguero that went unpunished.
However, Guardiola refused to blame Taylor for the defeat, his first at Etihad Stadium since he took charge of City in the summer.
“We didn’t win because we missed a lot of chances, not because of the referee’s decisions,” the Spaniard added.
“I am proud of my team and how we played – I came here to try to play the way we played in this game.
“You have to remember who we were playing, and that we created more chances than we did in our last two games against Burnley and Crystal Palace, when we won.
“But in the boxes we are not strong enough. When the opportunities arrive, we have to score goals because when we don’t it is tough mentally for the players.
“It is a problem we have had all season. It is difficult for us to score goals and we concede them very easily.”
