![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 Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into the alleged disappearance or diversion of ₦26.9 billion from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).
In a letter dated May 9, 2026, SERAP urged the president to direct Bosun Tijani and Yomi Arowosafe, secretary of the USPF, to explain the whereabouts of the funds allegedly missing from the telecom intervention agency.
The organisation also called on Lateef Fagbemi and anti-corruption agencies to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found culpable.
According to SERAP, the allegations were contained in the 2022 audited report published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on September 9, 2025.
The group said the alleged financial irregularities threaten efforts to expand telecommunications access and digital inclusion, especially in underserved and rural communities across Nigeria.
SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, who signed the letter, said the alleged diversion of public funds undermines internet connectivity projects, infrastructure development and access to critical digital services.
The organisation alleged that the USPF failed to remit more than ₦13.8 billion in operating surplus between 2016 and 2019, raising fears from the Auditor-General that the funds “may have been diverted”.
SERAP also cited claims that over ₦11.7 million was spent on international training programmes during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 without supporting documents such as invitation letters, receipts or certificates of participation.
The letter further referenced alleged contract irregularities involving over ₦2.8 billion awarded without proper approval or procurement records.
Other allegations included an ₦8 million payment to a non-existing fund manager, over ₦6.4 billion reportedly spent on projects outside the approved 2020 budget, and more than ₦2.8 billion allegedly spent between January and May 2021 without documentation or explanation.
SERAP said the Auditor-General also queried failures to deduct and remit statutory taxes, including ₦333 million in stamp duties and over ₦144 million in withholding tax payments.
The organisation further alleged that more than ₦391 million was paid to consultants for projects without evidence that the work was carried out.
According to SERAP, failure to investigate and recover the funds could worsen inequality and deepen Nigeria’s digital divide, particularly for vulnerable groups relying on internet access for education, healthcare, business and civic participation.
The organisation gave the federal government seven days to act, warning that it may initiate legal action against the government, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the USPF if no action is taken.
SERAP argued that the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption conventions require the government to prevent corruption, recover stolen public funds and ensure accountability in the management of national resources.
![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")
