![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")
Nottingham Forest moved level on points with second-placed Arsenal after withstanding an unlikely comeback by bottom club Southampton at the City Ground.
The hosts looked in total control with a 3-0 lead inside 41 minutes, only for a fortuitous Jan Bednarek goal and Paul Onuachu’s thumping header – in the first of 12 added minutes – setting up a tense and thrilling finale.
Saints, who had battled back brilliantly in the second half, then almost snatched an equaliser but Ola Aina spectacularly cleared Bednarek’s header off the line.
Such drama looked unlikely for much of the match after Nottingham took 11th-minute lead when Elliot Anderson drove from midfield and shot low into the bottom left corner for his first goal for the club.
Callum Hudson-Odoi buried the second from the edge of the box in the 28th minute after another defensive mistake by Southampton and Chris Wood headed in his 14th goal of the season to add a third before half-time.
Unbeaten now in eight league games with seven wins and a draw, Nottingham remain third on goal difference, but are seven points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth in a further boost to their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.
Both they and Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Southampton have lost 18 games this season, including all five league matches since Ivan Juric was appointed in December, and stay bottom of the table with six points.
