![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")
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has agreed terms to take over at Chelsea this summer. (Telegraph)
Pochettino wants Mason Mount to stay at Stamford Bridge, although the 24-year-old England midfielder only has one year left on his contract and has not been offered an extension. (Mail)
Liverpool are ready to end the race for World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister with a £70m deal for the Brighton and Argentina midfielder. (Mirror)
Chelsea are ready to bid £70m for Brighton and Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo this summer. (Fichajes – in Spanish)
Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker, 32, is ready to reject interest from abroad and see out the final 12 months of his contract at Etihad Stadium. (Sun)
Manchester United and Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez, 25, is in line for a pay rise this summer as soon as the club’s ownership issues are resolved. (Sun)
Everton would be willing to accept £50m this summer for Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana if they are relegated from the Premier League. (Football Insider)
Barcelona are interested in signing Wolves and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 26. (Talksport)
England midfielder Jude Bellingham reportedly rejected a move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City as he did not want to join a ‘plastic club’. (FourFourTwo)
Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe, the 17-year-old Birmingham City midfielder, is closing in on a move to Sunderland and was pictured at the Stadium of Light for the Black Cats’ play-off semi-final first leg on Saturday. (Northern Echo)
Aston Villa are keen on Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Marco Asensio, 27, and Barcelona’s Spain forward Ferran Torres, 23. (Sport – in Spanish)
But Torres has insisted he wants to stay with Barcelona and has had no contact with Villa. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
Real Madrid are looking to sell French full-back Ferland Mendy, 27, with Arsenal on alert. (Mirror)
Manchester United have entered the race to sign Bayern Munich’s Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, 20, this summer. (Football Insider)
The president of Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, Fahad Bin Saad Bin Nafel, has refused to comment on speculation surrounding a move for Paris St-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
Atletico Madrid are in talks with Racing Club de Montevideo over a move for Uruguayan centre-back Santiago Mourino, 21. (Marca – in Spanish)
Highly rated Liverpool defender Isaac Mabaya, 18, has signed a new contract with the club. (Liverpool Echo)
Manchester City are close to completing a deal to sign England Under-16s goalkeeper Spike Brits, 15, from AFC Wimbledon. (Fabrizio Romano)
