![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 Senate has blocked the nomination of Nasir El Rufai as minister, releasing the names of 45 others that passed its screening.
The Senate on Monday did not state why El Rufai was not cleared despite appearing before the Red Chamber for screening.
Also blocked are Stella Okotete and Abubakar Danladi.
Chronicle NG reports that it is not clear why the Senate has withheld the three names, although there are claims that some people have filed petitions against the three ministerial candidates.
The 45 people who have been cleared and approved are:
1. Abubakar Kyari – Borno State
2. Abubakar Momoh – Edo State
3. Nyesom Wike wike – Rivers State
4. Prof. Joseph Utsev – Benue State
5. John Eno – Cross River State
6. Bello Mohammed – Sokoto State
7. Mohammed Abubakar – Jigawa State
8. Yusuf Tuggar – Bauchi State
9. Uju Ohaneye – Anambra State
10. Olubunmi Ojo – Ondo State
11. Nkeiruka Onyekachukwu – Abia State
12. Betta Edu – Cross River State
13. Imaan Suleiman – Nasarawa State
14. David Umahi – Ebonyi State
15. Adebayo Edun – Ogun State
16. Ahmed Dangiwa – Katsina State
17. Uche Nnaji – Enugu State
18. Dele Alake – Ekiti State
19. Waheed Adelabu – Oyo state
20. Muhammad Idris – Niger state
Prof. Ali Pate – Bauchi State
22. DR. Doris Uzoka – Imo State
23. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) – Kwara State
24. Ekperikpe Ekpo – Akwa Ibom
25. Hannatu Musawa – Katsina State
26. Ibrahim Geidam – Yobe State
27. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi – Niger State
28. Heineken Lokpobiri – Bayelsa State
29. Alkali Ahmed Sa’eed – Gombe State
30. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu
31. Atiku Bagudu – Kebbi State
32. Bello Matawalle – Zamfara State
33. Adegboyega Oyetola – Osun State
34. Simon Bako Lalong – Plateau State
35. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo
36. Bosun Tijjani – Ogun State
37. Dr. Mariya Mahmoud – Kano State
38. Dr. Isiyaka Salako – Ogun State
39. DR. Tunji Alausa – Lagos State
40. Lola Ade John – Lagos State
41. Prof. Tahir Mamman – Adamawa state
42. Zephaniah Jissalo – FCT
43. Uba Maigari Ahmadu – Taraba State
44. Shuaibu Abubakar Audu – Kogi State
45. Festus Keyamo (SAN) – Delta State
![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?")
