![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")
Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s 100-metre hurdles world record holder, has been authorised to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) dismissed appeals made by World Athletics (WA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenging the decision to clear her of a doping conviction.
In July 2023, WA charged Amusan with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Rule 2.4 WA ADR for three alleged whereabouts failures in a 12-month period.
Meanwhile, Amusan appealed the verdict, and in August 2023, the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal (WADT) determined that Amusan did not break Rule 2.4 of the WA Anti-Doping Rules (WA ADR) and that no period of ineligibility should be imposed on him.
CAS, in a statement issued on Friday, upheld WADT’s ruling.
“In their respective appeals to CAS, WA and WADA had sought the imposition of a two-year period of ineligibility.
“The CAS Panel held a hearing on Jan. 19. Having deliberated, the CAS Panel issued its decision today, dismissing both appeals.
“The CAS Panel unanimously acknowledged that the athlete committed two filing failures but did not confirm the existence of a missed test, alleged by WA and WADA, which would have been the third whereabouts failure committed within a 12-month period.
“Accordingly, the CAS Panel concluded that the athlete did not commit an ADRV and that the challenged decision should be confirmed,” CAS noted.
