![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")
Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from tennis at the end of this season.
The 38-year-old will represent Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.
Nadal has been unable to play for the past two seasons due to injuries and previously stated that he could retire at the end of the 2024 season.
“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially.
“I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.”
Nadal departs as the second-most successful men’s singles player of all time, trailing only long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
Nadal, known as the ‘King of Clay’, won the French Open singles title 14 times in a row, winning 112 of his 116 major matches at Roland Garros.
No player has won more Grand Slam singles titles in the same tournament.
Heaal has also won the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice, as well as the US Open four times.
He also won Olympic singles and doubles gold and helped Spain win four Davis Cups, the most recent in 2019.
Along with long-time rivals Djokovic and 20-time major champion Roger Federer, Nadal created the ‘Big Three’ that dominated the men’s game in the early 2000s and gained legions of fans.
“What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come,” Federer, who famously cried alongside Nadal when he retired in 2022, said.
“Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love.
“It’s been an absolute honour.”
