![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 Makurdi Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 16 2021, arraigned one Chidi Aniekwe Emmanuel before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, Benue State on a four count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N150, 000.00 (One Hundred Fifty-thousand Naira).
One of the counts reads: “That you, Chidi Aniekwe Emmanuel and Ifeanyi (now at large), sometime in June 2020, at Lafia within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did conspire amongst yourselves to use a First Bank ATM card of Agu Onuorah to obtain the sum of N150, 000 (One hundred fifty thousand naira) at Bashiman Enterprise POS and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 27(1b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC.) Act 2015 punishable under section 31(1) of the same Act”.
He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, George Chia-Yakua asked for a trial date, and the remand of the defendant pending bail.
However, defence counsel, I. M. Mari orally applied for the bail of his client.
Justice Olajuwon granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) with one surety in like sum, who must be a public servant or civil servant on Grade Level 12 and above. The surety must reside in Makurdi, own a landed property with Certificate of Occupancy, show evidence of tax clearance and submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
While adjourning until May 3, 2021 for the commencement of trial, the judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
Chidi was arrested with three others suspected fraudsters who specialize in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public by stealing their bank details while pretending to help them operate ATM machines.
![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")
