![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")
- Party hails Kwara Gov’s ‘excellent’ handling of exercise
The incumbent Osun governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has been declared winner of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries held in Osun State.
Oyetola polled 222,169 votes to beat his main challenger and former Secretary to the State Government Moshood Adeoti who got 12,921 votes.
Former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Rt Hon. Lasun Yusuf polled 460 votes to emerge second runner-up in the ballot that has been adjudged very peaceful and credible by most observers.
Chairman of the Osun Governorship Primary Election Committee and governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced the results at the state secretariat of APC at 2.57a.m. on Sunday.
There were a total of 408, 697 registered voters (party members), out of which 247, 207 were accredited to take part in the exercise, according to the Governor.
He said there were a total of 235,550 votes cast in the Osun Governorship Primaries.
“I, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, chairman of Osun Governorship Primary Election Committee, hereby certify that Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, having scored the highest number of votes cast in the Osun State Governorship primary election held on February 19, 2022 and met all the requirements as contained in the guidelines for the election, is declared the winner,” he announced, drawing applause from the audience.
The announcement followed hours-long collation of results from across the 30 local government areas of the state, which started at about 12.45a.m.
Chairman of APC in Osun State Prince Gboyega Famodun, who spoke on behalf of the party, commended members of the party for the impressive turnout and peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Famodun commended the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led committee for the painstaking, enthusiasm and love shown in the excellent conduct of the primaries.
The party chairman lauded AbdulRazaq for the maturity, patriotism and calmness with which he conducted the exercise, thereby giving lies to predictions of violence and rancour in the run-up to the primaries.
“I want to thank you for the pains you have taken. That was very articulate. You have done so well beyond our expectations. May God bless you for the enthusiasm, and love you showed for this assignment,” Famodun said.
“I want to say that we are all members of the same family in Osun. All structures of the party are happy with the conduct of the exercise. I want to thank you for making us proud and for relieving us the pressure. May God bless you, Your Excellency, for dousing the tension that enveloped the state before the primaries.
“The foundation laid by your committee will be followed to lead us to victory in July, this year.”
Like the conduct of the ballot itself, the collation and announcement of results were observed by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), observers and the media.
![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")
