![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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, commenced a four-day training of officers of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, LACC, at its Academy in Karu, Abuja.
The training, which centres on financial crimes and investigative report writing, is designed to strengthen and deepen the capacities of officers of LACC for broad-based investigation and analysis of different types of financial crimes.
In a welcome address to the trainees, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, stressed the importance of knowledge and training, emphasising that “knowledge is better than physical strength; therefore, I believe that your coming here is to acquire necessary skills that will give you acceleration in your career and to handle your job effectively.”
Olukoyede, who was represented by the Commandant, EFCC Academy, Deputy Commander of EFCC, Chinwe Ndubeze, assured the participants of the Academy’s capacity to deliver their expectations from the training.
“Considering the competencies of the resource persons assigned to train you here, we hope that your quest will be achieved at the end of the course,” he said.
In his remark, the Head, External Cooperation Unit, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Aliyu Wali, explained that the training “underscores the importance of regional collaboration in our collective fight against corruption and financial crimes.”
He stressed that international cooperation, especially within the African region, has proven to be a powerful tool in combating transnational financial crimes.
“This training is not just an opportunity to enhance investigative skills but a vital platform to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices that can strengthen our collective efforts,” he said.
Leader of the Liberian officers, Dr. Miatta Jeh, on behalf of the delegation, appreciated the EFCC’s management and the Nigerian government for the training and hospitality.
Chronicle NG gathered that some of the courses slated for the training include Financial Investigation Techniques, Introduction to Financial Intelligence, Asset Tracing (Financial Transactions), Interviewing Techniques in Financial Crimes, Financial Data Analysis, General Report Writing, among others.
![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")
