![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")
A political group, Concerned Lagos East Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Non Indigene Forum, has declared support for a senatorial aspirant, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, in the upcoming by-election of the Lagos East Senatorial District.
The group, which is made up of members of the PDP from the five local government areas of Ikorodu, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki and Shomolu under the the Lagos East Senatorial District, made this disclosure in a letter sent to the National Chairman of the party.
In the letter signed by Chief Donatus Okoro, Mrs. Paulina Agbator, Dr. Michael Okondo, Mrs. Eunice Bassey and Comrade Kenneth Newton, the group also alleged clandestine moves by some leaders of the party to impose a former Action Democratic Party (ADP) Governorship candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi, who recently defected to the PDP as candidate for the by-election.
It called on the National Leadership of the PDP to call leaders of the party in the state to order.
The by-election is necessitated by the death of Senator Adebayo Osinowo on June 15.
The group said: “We sincerely call on the PDP National Leaders and other stakeholders to act swiftly and check the Lagos PDP leaders from trading a real candidate for an apparent one.
“If we work as members of the same PDP family, victory is guaranteed considering yearnings from numerous members of the opposition parties whose interests are just to stop the dominance of the APC.
“From feelers around, same set of leaders who are used to failure are trying to scuttle the peace already being enjoyed all around considering the rising profile of the PDP generally.
“The same Gbadamosi contested in 2015 for governor under the PDP. The moment President Goodluck Jonathan asked that Jimi Agbaje, the eventual party candidate should be supported by everybody, he was the only party aspirant that worked against the party.
“During the last elections, the same man crossed to the ADP and contested for Governorship.
“Funny enough, from 20 Local Government Areas, he was able to score just a paltry 4,790 votes. The then PDP candidate, Princess Oyefusi in just 5 Local Government Areas under the Senatorial District recorded above 90,000 votes.
“During the last elections, after numerous quality people were forced out of the party by the same set of leaders and ‘dashed’ to the APC due to high handedness, impositions etc, the last party candidate, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi stood by the party like a rock of Gibraltar.
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“She gave love, hope and renewed strength to an almost dying party in the senatorial district.
“This same woman single-handedly paid the rents of some of the PDP LGA Secretariats in about 4 out of the 5 LGAs. Apart, she single-handedly sponsored membership continuous voters card registration exercise across board.”
The group said the Lagos State PDP remains the only party in the South West that have not won a seat in the Senate due to the constant intra-party issues orchestrated by a few disgruntled leaders that are used to failure.
It added that the coming election is a sure win for the PDP if stakeholders can timely call everybody to order.
![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")
