![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?")
Police said they had arrested Empress Njamah’s ex-boyfriend, who they allege defrauded over 20 women. Other people who might have been victims of Davies have been urged to come forward and file reports.
The Liberian police have verified the arrest of Nicholas Jack Davies, the ex-boyfriend of Nigerian actress Empress Njamah.
Several months ago, Davies was charged with extortion and leaking private videos of Njamah. The police commander in Liberia revealed that Davies is a well-known con artist who targets wealthy women in particular, seduces them into love relationships, and manipulates them to steal their money during a news conference.
He said, “Notorious scammer Nicholas Jack Davis has been arrested by the Liberian National Police severally and charged to court. Fortunately, he returned to the community after bail and carried out the same actions he was previously charged with.
“There have been several complaints against the 39-year-old, of which the suspect has victimized over twenty females. As a result, he is involved in absconding with their personal belongings and expensive materials.
“With the recent report brought against him, we began a robot search, and he was arrested at Miami Beach while attempting to victimize other females. There is prior information of the suspect carrying the same act in Nigeria on an actress.
“He spent approximately 70 months in the country before committing the crime against the female actress. We can assure the public that all the victims will get justice and anyone with other information should visit the Liberian Police Station to register their complaints to ensure the suspect does not go with impunity.”
As a reminder, Empress Njamah had previously accused Davies, who went by the name George Wade in Nigeria, of taking over her social media account, physically abusing her, and creating intimate videos to blackmail her. She alleged that he had entered her life pretending to be a romantic partner during a vulnerable time when she was mourning the death of her best friend, Ada Ameh.
During the press conference, the police confirmed that Davies had carried out similar operations against other women who had come forward with complaints. This underscores the pattern of behavior exhibited by Davies in targeting and victimizing multiple women using deceitful means.
Following reports from 20 Liberian women who claimed to have been duped and robbed of their valuables by Davies, he was tracked down and arrested in Liberia. It was alleged that he was in the midst of planning another scam against a victim when he was apprehended.
The police have urged other potential victims of Davies to come forward and report their complaints, indicating that there may be additional individuals who have been targeted by his fraudulent activities.
