![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")
Nigerians have accused the founder of Power City International Ministry, Pastor Abel Damina, of jealousy over his faulting of the popular saying, “What God cannot do does not exist.”
He said the statement popularised by Pastor Jerry Eze of Streams of Joy International Ministry is not the truth.
The pastor made the statements in a recent podcast released for a program, the Honest Bunch Podcast with Nedu.
Damina, known for his criticism of Nigerian pastors, clarified that his opposition to Eze’s teachings was not driven by jealousy but rather a desire to uphold the truth.
He said, “What God cannot do does not exist. This is not the truth.
“People think I’m jealous of Jerry Eze, but that is not the truth.
“It is not about sentiment. It is about knowing what the truth is.”
Damina’s comments on his colleague have attracted backlash from Nigerians, with many accusing him of being jealous of Eze’s success.
Chronicle NG highlights some reactions by Nigerians to Damina’s statement.
Jay Bee, “Abel Damina has lost it. Yes, you are envious and jealous of Pastor Jerry Eze. Will you admit that you are in the first place on a national podcast? Of course not.
“You claim to correct pastors and their doctrines; my question is, with which spirit, hate or love?”
Somtobechukwu Anierobi, “Whatever Dr. Abel Damina is saying, be they true or lies, I have one question: when did men of God start honouring podcast invites?”
Viktor Edeh, “I’ve never listened to Jerry Eze, but there’s no week I don’t get the NSPD link at least 20 times on all platforms, and I can tell you; from their transformation, change in lifestyle, promotions, and business opportunities, it’s working for the majority of these women who wake up to his early morning devotion before they’ll even reply or talk in the morning. Man is just green with envy.”
Obafemi, “Dr. Damina has presented himself as a tool for the falling away of many professing Christians. The separation of wheat and chaff is ongoing.”
Oke. O. Matarazi: “Everyone has their own beliefs, and the phrase ‘What God Cannot Do Doesn’t Exist’ is meant to encourage faith in God’s power. But it’s important to remember that God’s plans are beyond our understanding, and not everything will go the way we want. It’s best to talk about these things respectfully and not turn it into a competition or argument.”
Eva James, “Instead of preaching the word, he’s talking about someone else; jealousy is written all over him.”
Uchenna Ukejianya: “This criticism about ‘what God cannot do does not exist’ is misguided because every open-minded person knows that the context is God’s power and not His character.”
King, “I know a day will come for people to criticise Pastor Jerry Eze. A man whose majority connects to his program through screens—no physical contact in most cases—but you still feel the miracles are staged. Anyway, Jesus was also criticised.”
Berbatov, “A so-called pastor at a podcast spreading hate about other ministers is the most disgusting thing I’ve seen in 2024; nothing can beat that. Some people may think they still have the Holy Spirit, while it might have departed them like King Saul.”
Joe, “The issue with some men of God is that they use lies to cancel truth. You need to know the context in which what God does not exist is quoted before condemning it. There is no impossibility with God, and therefore what God cannot do does not exist.”
Victor Akpabio “A genuine Man of God would be too busy spreading the word and serving their community to participate in a podcast like this. For instance, can you imagine inviting Apostle Joshua Selman to be a guest? I’ve noticed that some individuals, like Pst. Abel Damina, preach controversially.”
Forward Okikioluwa, “Envy and jealousy is what will lead to some people’s downfall. Imagine a pastor saying such things. In fact, he has been ranting rubbish since. ‘Master’ in which gospel? Let everyone be careful of who they follow. What God cannot do doesn’t exist.”
Kena, “I knew it was only a matter of time before one of these pastors would start saying all these. You can tell from what he said that Baba has lost some church members, or probably all. I’ve been on the altar since 2020, and I’ve had no reason to doubt pastor Jerry Eze.”
![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")
