![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 football federation executive Luis Rubiales filed a lawsuit against coach Javier Clemente, who called Rubiales a “dangerous and ambitious guy” looking to “get rich,” but the Spanish court dismissed the case on the grounds of free speech.
In its ruling, seen by reporters on Monday and dated Sept. 1, the Madrid court stated that “we are dealing with a pure exercise of the right to freely express an opinion about a person who, moreover, is a public figure,” amid an unrelated scandal involving Rubiales’ behaviour at the Women’s World Cup last month.
The decision can be challenged.
Luis declined to comment, while Clemente, who coached Spain’s men’s national team in the 1990s, was unavailable for comment.
Luis filed a lawsuit against Clemente in 2022 after the outspoken coach stated in an interview that Rubiales’ “goal was to make a fortune” as RFEF president.
Rubiales grabbed athlete Jenni Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips during the medal presentation following Spain’s World Cup triumph in Sydney on August 20, sparking outrage in Spanish sport and society.
After weeks of ignoring pleas from players, legislators, and women’s groups, he ultimately resigned as president of the RFEF and vice president of UEFA on September 10, shortly after Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against him for alleged sexual assault.
Clemente, a former player, guided Athletic Bilbao to La Liga wins before taking over as manager of Spain for six years, leading them to World Cup victories in 1994 and 1998. He also coached the national teams of Serbia, Cameroon, and Libya.
