![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?")
Manchester United want to sign Chelsea’s former Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech, 29, after failing to muscle in on Germany forward Timo Werner’s move from Chelsea to RB Leipzig. (Manchester Evening News)
Newcastle United could target Chelsea’s USA forward Christian Pulisic, 23. (The Athletic, via Mail)
Chelsea will need to fend off late interest from Juventus for Italy midfielder Jorginho, 30, if Juve sell France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 27, to Manchester United. (Express)
West Ham have submitted a big-money offer to Barcelona for Netherlands forward Memphis Depay, 28. (Football Insider)
Bordeaux have accepted an offer of 4m euros (£3.4m) from Nottingham Forest for South Korea striker Hwang Ui-jo, 29. (L’Equipe – in French)
Napoli have reached an agreement with Tottenham to sign France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, 25, on loan with a buy option. (Fabrizio Romano)
Willian’s move to Fulham is at a final stage after the Brazil winger, 34, terminated his contract with Corinthians. (Nicola Schira)
Fulham have also joined the race to sign Senegal forward Bamba Dieng, 22, from Marseille, with Celtic also keen. (90min)
Spain right-back Hector Bellerin has been offered to Barcelona as the 27-year-old negotiates the termination of his contract with Arsenal. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
Barca are negotiating with Manchester United about selling USA full-back Sergino Dest, 21, with the Spanish club wanting a fee of 20m euros (£16.9m). (Sport, via Bild)
United are continuing to search for a back-up goalkeeper to David de Gea, with Southampton’s former England keeper Alex McCarthy, 32, on their radar. (90min)
Ander Herrera has agreed to rejoin Athletic Bilbao, who the former Spain midfielder, 32, left for Manchester United in 2014, if he can reach a financial agreement with Paris St-Germain over the remainder of his contract. (L’Equipe – in French)
West Ham have had a £25m bid for Sporting Lisbon’s Matheus Nunes rejected after the Portugal midfielder, 23, made clear he didn’t want to join them. (Mail)
Manager Pep Guardiola expects Sergio Gomez to be Manchester City’s final signing of the summer, with the Spanish full-back, 21, close to sealing a 10m euro (£8.5m) move from Anderlecht. (Guardian)
Manager Bruno Lage is pushing for Wolves to offer Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 25, £100,000 a week amid interest from Manchester United and Arsenal. (Sun)
