![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 Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has prohibited the Nigeria Police Force from parading suspects.
A parade is a public presentation of an individual suspected of committing a crime.
Senior police personnel in the Federal Capital Territory and the Lagos State Police Command informed our correspondent that they were aware of the development.
One of them told our correspondent, “I am aware of it. I think the directive was given by the AGF earlier this month or thereabouts, and the information was passed down to us. You would have noticed some level of compliance.”
Another high-ranking police officer in the FCT said, “Yes, we have been asked to stop parading suspects.”
When contacted, the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police would issue a statement on the ban at the appropriate time.
“The police will react officially on the matter when it is time. We will make an official statement soon,” Adejobi said.
Mr. Kamorudeen Ogundele, the minister’s special assistant on communication and publicity, could not be reached at the time this story was filed.
Speaking on the matter, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) stated that the practice of parading suspects was illegal.
He said, “The practice of parading suspects is illegal as it constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental right of criminal suspects to the presumption of innocence guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004).
“It is equally discriminatory as only lowly placed criminal suspects are exposed to media parades by the police and other law enforcement agencies.
“While poor suspects are paraded for allegedly stealing tubers of yam or telephone handsets valued at N10,000 or less, politically exposed persons accused of looting the public treasury to the tune of N10 billion or more are never paraded before the media.”
Falana noted that over five judgments had declared that the parading of suspects is illegal.
He said, “Even though the incriminating statements procured from criminal suspects during media parades are not admissible during trials in criminal courts, they are used by law enforcement agencies to compel members of the public to participate in mob justice.
“There are five judgments of the ECOWAS Court and Federal High Courts that have declared the parade of suspects illegal.
“I have sued all law enforcement and security agencies to justify the illegal parade of suspects.”
Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) described the practice as unnecessary.
He expressed concerns over the long-term reputational damage inflicted on suspects who may later be found innocent.
He said, “I want to say that this issue has persisted for many years, lingering unnecessarily.
“I want to implore the present Inspector General of Police to stop the practice of parading suspects. Because such suspects, at the end of the day, may be found not guilty, but the damage done to their reputation remains permanent. Unfortunately, while people widely see and remember the parade, fewer pay attention when the courts eventually exonerate the accused.
“The Inspector General should direct all officers across the 36 state police commands to stop parading criminal suspects. There is no need for such displays—if the police have a solid case, they should take the suspect to court.
“It is different when a person is leaving the courtroom and the media captures images as part of their normal job. In such cases, the matter is already before the court and is sub judice. However, parading individuals before they are even tried, labeling them as criminals, is unjust and should be discontinued.”
![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")
