![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
Amid an ongoing call for Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales to resign, Barcelona star Alexia Putellas has told Luis Rubiales “it’s over”.
Rubiales, the head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, declined to quit in a press conference on Friday afternoon, despite widespread criticism for his attitude during the Women’s World Cup.
The RFEF president was expected to resign after kissing Spain’s Jenni Hermoso after La Roja defeated England on Sunday.
After the media was informed that the RFEF president would quit and be replaced by Pedro Rocha, he addressed an emergency general assembly and said he was not leaving.
And Putellas, who came on as a substitute in the second half of the World Cup final, has broken her silence, tweeting, This is unacceptable. It’s over. With you, teammate @Jennihermoso“.
Rubiales blamed the reaction to his conduct on “fake feminism” and labelled the outrage a “social assassination” in an extraordinary diatribe.
Defending his action, he stated that it was her (Hermoso) who lifted me up and brought me closer into her body. It was a spontaneous kiss. Mutual, euphoric, and consensual. A consensual peck is enough to get me out of here. I’ll fight until the end”.
