![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")
Honest opinions and authentic emotional reactions from coaches are good for the sport, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday after being charged by the English FA for his comments on refereeing.
Arteta was charged last week for calling the video assistant referee’s decision not to overturn Anthony Gordon’s goal in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Nov. 4 an embarrassment and a disgrace.
“I have been here for 20 years, and I have supported the league, the players, the referees, and I have always promoted the game in the best possible manner,” Arteta told reporters in London ahead of Saturday’s game at Brentford.
“And I expect that if we want to continue to do that, you have to give your opinion.
“We live the game with emotion. It has to happen; you have to react. Let’s sit here on mute and see if the game is that interesting. It won’t be. In a very respectful way, it’s impossible.”
He said any instructions from the FA to moderate the behaviour of players and coaches during a game should be specific.
“What do we expect from each other? They tell me these three things are going to help; believe me, I will try my best to help. But it has to be detailed,” he said.
“Don’t talk globally about one situation, one day, and three months later, because then we have to go to the history of what we all say and how we all behave. Because I can be really good now because of it, but two years ago?”
Arteta said he had written to the FA explaining his perspective on the incident that led to the charge.
“It is good that we are communicating, and we all want to improve the game. Referees, managers, officials, sporting directors, journalists—we all want a better game,” he added.
Arsenal are a point behind leaders Manchester City as they visit 11th-placed Brentford on Saturday.
