![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?")
BoConcept, an international furniture company, is joining forces this month with Nomadic Art Gallery to present an exhibition titled ‘Art meets Design’.
The exhibition will run from 16th September to 7th October 2023 (Monday through Saturday) at 37a Adetokunbo Ademola crescent, Wuse 2, FCT Abuja and will feature works by contemporary Nigerian artists – Oluwaferanmi Okeowo, Joe Abdallah, Anny Robert and Jessicah Yakno-Abasi Ene.
The innovative ‘Art meets Design’ concept was conceived by Charlotte Obidairo of BoConcept when the Danish furniture company first entered the Nigerian market in 2014. “Some customers were expressing concerns about how the contemporary furniture might work with African art in their homes. They were having difficulties in visualizing the mixing of the genres. I decided to provide the forum for addressing exactly that during month long exhibitions with local artists dubbed ‘Art meets Design’ explains Charlotte Obidairo. The now tried and tested concept is rolled out across BoConcept stores in Africa.
This month’s exhibition in Abuja is brought to life in collaboration with Nomadic Art Gallery – a Lagos based gallery representing contemporary African artists across the continent. For Gallery Director, Mercy Imiegha it is a match made in heaven. “Art and design go hand in hand. Some say good design is largely about skills while good art is largely about talent, which is partly true,” she says and continuing adds “But both good design and good art are about making an impression and getting a reaction. That is what we are hoping to achieve with the Art meets Design Abuja edition”.
The exhibition in Abuja showcases art works in spaces simulating a home setting. The art is intentionally curated to accentuate the design and functionality of the modern urban furniture and vice-versa. All items – furniture and art – on display are for sale.
Since 2016, Nomadic Art Gallery has been on a mission to provide African art and artists on the continent and in diaspora a strong voice and visibility in Africa and beyond, pioneering what NAG refers to as “the Afrobeat of Contemporary Art”.
The non-conformist gallery has for years collaborated with BoConcept Africa showcasing African art in the company of Scandinavian designs, highlighting the complementarity of the two distinct aesthetics. ‘Art meets Design’ exhibitions have held in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Nairobi.
![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?")
