![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")
Manchester United will host Scottish side Rangers and travel to Turkey to face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the new 36-team Europa League after the draw was made on Friday.
Two Premier Leagues teams have made it to the competition this year, Tottenham Hotspur after finishing fifth and United through their FA Cup victory.
The tournament’s league phase has four pots with nine clubs each, divided according to club coefficient. Clubs will face eight different teams with four games at home and four away, picked with the help of a computer.
The fixtures are determined by seeding and every result will factor into the comprehensive league standings.
Mourinho, who steered Manchester United to a Europa League triumph in 2017 with a 2-0 final victory over Ajax, is poised for a reunion with his former club, where he served as the manager from 2016 to 2018.
Tottenham, winners of the tournament’s inaugural edition in 1972, return to European competition following a year-long hiatus. Ange Postecoglou’s side take on Serie A side AS Roma and will travel to Scotland to face Rangers, among six other planned fixtures.
The Europa League final will take place in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21 2025.
