![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 Union of Plaster of Paris Workers in Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to regulate the price of Plaster of Paris (POP) materials in the market.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, the union members also appealed to the Federal Government to grant approval to license the organisation.
Plaster of Paris is a building material used for decorating, molding, casting and protective coating on walls and ceilings of homes and offices.
Mr Mathew Abata, POP national public relations officer, decried the increasing costs of materials which affected patronage and livelihood.
Abata said that there was the need to create a platform to dialogue with the importers of POP materials to ensure price stability.
“We are POP workers, we are artisans under civil engineering; we decorate houses and industries of all kinds.
“We feel it’s necessary to put our voices together because when you go to civil engineering, our work is the number one richest work.
”But right now, we feel cheated because of many things; the POP sellers will just decide at any time to raise the price of material without consulting us the end users,” he said.
“We need a platform where we can dialogue with those importing these materials. So, before anything will be done; before any rise in price, they must let us know.
“We want the Federal Government to hear us, to know that we are citizens of this country.
“We want them to help us achieve this certificate, we want them to know that there is a job like this, that artisans are suffering,” Abata said.
Mr Tovi Boniface, National President of the union, urged all artisans in the country to register with the association to better their future.
“We are trained to put heads together so that we can make something which everyone will benefit from in the future,” he said.
Also, Mr John Apolinaire, POP union Chairman, FCT branch, advised members to collaborate as a team to achieve the aims and objectives of the association.
“As a group of POP workers, we are honorable members in the society, so we advise members to work with diligence, commitment and all seriousness.
“We need to come together with one voice to reason and think together to achieve one goal,” Apolinaire said.
However, the union’s legal adviser, Mr Babatunde Ojo, said that continuous effort should be made to ensure that legal steps are taken to register the organisation to gain adequate recognition.
(NAN)
![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")
