![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 National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has resolved to suspend its strike embarked on since Sept. 4.
Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment said this in text messages forwarded to Labour correspondents on Thursday morning in Abuja.
It would be recalled that NARD embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike to press home six-point demands which included non-payment of salary arrears, sacking of some of their colleagues, non-payment of “skipping’’ entitlement and the non-inclusion in IPPIS platform.
Ngige said that the SMS was signed by Mr John Onyebueze, President of NARD. He said that the striking doctors in Nigeria have agreed to suspend their 10-day old industrial action.
He said that the doctors were directed to resume work nationwide on Friday 8 am local time.
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“The union resolved to suspend the strike and to re-assess the situation in two weeks at its Annual General Meeting in Abuja.
“The suspension is in response to the efforts so far made by the government in addressing the items on the notice of their ultimatum.
“This also as well as implementing the contents of the re-negotiated memorandum of settlement,‘’ he said.
The doctors action is however coming just as the Joint Health Sector Union have given notice to begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday next week.
Meanwhile, Dr Onyebueze John, Presidnet of NARD, confirmed that the strike has been called off following a meeting of the executive council late Wednesday night.
A statement from John said the doctors would meet again in two weeks to reassess the situation.
”The National Executive Council of NARD met from 6:00 pm Tuesday, 12th September to 12:15am Thursday, 14th September 2017 to review the status of our nationwide strike and the offer from Government in the re-negotiated Memorandum of Terms of Settlement (MTS) with Government.
”After due consideration of the efforts by Government and progress made in addressing the items on the notice of our ultimatum, and strike, as well as implementing the contents of the re-negotiated MTS, NARD resolved to suspend her 10 days strike, and to reassess situation in two weeks at our AGM in Abuja,” the statement reads.
