![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")
On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, opened the ruling board of the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, Kano State, on Friday in Abuja.
Dingyadi stated that President Buhari’s dedication to leaving a changed, professionalized, highly driven, and knowledge-based police force with the goal of institutionalising preventative policing in Nigeria was reinforced by the ceremony.
He stated that the governing board’s sanction aimed to completely operationalize the terms of the Police Academy (Establishment) Act 2021, which was previously passed into law by the president on April 7, 2022.
According to the minister, the ministry has the constitutional duty of having control and oversight over the academy’s policy, funds, and property.
According to him, the council also has the authority to select teachers and other key academic and managerial personnel at the school who are not police officials.
He also stated that the board determines the terms and circumstances of their employment, as well as their pay and extent of duties.
“On the advice of the appropriate committees, promote and discipline academy staff who are not police officers; consider and approve the academy’s annual budget or estimates, external auditor’s report, and any variations thereto.”
“Approve recommendations for emeritus professor appointments; appoint bankers, auditors, or other agents for the academy; and approve the academy’s status as required by this act.”
“Approve the establishment of any offices, departments, or committees deemed necessary or expedient for the smooth operation of the academy,” he said.
Dingyadi stated that the members were appointed based on talent and their excellent track records.
He encouraged them to use their abundance of expertise and creativity to carry out their constitutional duty of re-engineering a world-class enforcement system in Nigeria.
Responding on behalf of the board members, Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Usman Baba, promised the board’s dedication to transforming POLAC into an achievement centre.
Baba stated that the school had developed from strength to strength since its inception and would continue to create excellent police officers in a variety of areas of study.
“We are proud of this academy, which is unique in the world, and we believe it will be one university that no parent would want his child to attend.”
“It is a university where no one asks for tuition, no one asks for housing, and no one asks for school fees.”
“After graduation, you have work and an area of specialisation based on what you read.”
“I believe it is a privilege granted by the government to Nigerians, and we will try to ensure that whatever it entails, we will do,” he said.
![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")
