![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")
Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, Kwara State has convicted and sentenced two fashion designers: Jatto Mujeeb, Opeyemi Bhadmus Abdulsamad, alongside three other internet fraudsters: Ipadeola Olawale, Tomiwa Kingsley and Kolawole Segun to various jail terms.
They were jailed on Monday, August 29, 2022 after pleading guilty to three-count separate charges bordering on internet fraud, cheating and possession of fraudulent funds.
Based on their guilty pleas, prosecution counsels: Innocent Mbachie and Sesan Ola prayed the court to convict and sentence the internet fraudsters accordingly.
Justice Yusuf sentenced Mujid to six months imprisonment on each of the three counts, with an option of fine of N50,000 (fifty thousand naira) on each count. The court ordered that the iPhone 6 which was used to commit the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The court imposed a jail term of six months on Bhadmus on each of the two counts with an option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) on each count.
The iPhone 13, iPhone 6 and a draft of N150,000 (one fifty thousand naira) which he raised as restitution to the victim be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Olawale bagged a jail term of six months imprisonment on each of the two counts, with an option of fine of N100,000 on each count. The iPhone 13 and funds in his bank account : $400 (four hundred US dollars and N1,330, 250 (one million, three hundred and thirty thousand, two hundred and fifty hundred naira) are forfeited to the Federal Government.
In a similar vein, Justice Yusuf sentenced Kingsley to six months imprisonment on each of the three counts with an option of fine of N100,000 on each count. The Judge ordered the forfeiture of his phone, the sum of N91,000 (ninety one thousand naira) in his bank account and $300 ( three hundred US dollars) raised as restitution to the Federal Government.
Segun bagged six months community service without an option of fine. Additionally, he forfeited a laptop, two phones and sum of N1.2m found in his bank account to the Federal Government.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC for internet-related offences. They were prosecuted and convicted.
![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")
